Browns Players Give Back | Cleveland Browns - clevelandbrowns.com
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Players Give Back
Throughout the season, our players hosted a variety of community-centric events aimed at supporting their very own local Northeast Ohio community. Browns players and coaches are also active with charitable endeavors.
Girl's High School Flag Football Championship
The Cleveland Browns hosted the 3rd Annual Northeast Ohio Girls High School Flag Football Championship Tournament at Huntington Bank Field on May 6, 2024, featuring 28 teams and nearly 400 athletes. Greg Newsome II and HC Kevin Stefanski attended the event, highlighting the sport's growth as Kirtland secured their third title in four years with a last-second touchdown.
Teacher Appreciation Week
The Cleveland Browns' Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, in partnership with University Hospitals, celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by recognizing educators across Northeast Ohio. D'Anthony Bell visited Berea-Midpark High School where he surprised educators and students with catered treats and Browns giveaway items.
Back-to-School Week
Dustin Hopkins and Jerome Ford visited Warrensville Heights Elementary School to kick off the school year with an engaging event for fourth- and fifth-grade students. The duo participated in Minute-to-Win-it games with the students creating a fun and interactive environment.
Joel Bitonio's Back-to-School Bash
Joel Bitonio hosted his annual back-to-school bash at Brook Park Elementary, providing backpacks and school supplies to 160 third-grade students. The event featured activity stations, football games and more students to celebrate the start of the academic year.
Gym Class Takeovers
Cedric Tillman, Lorenzo Thompson, Pierre Strong Jr. and Elerson Smith hosted their own 'Gym Class Takeovers' in tandem with the Browns Flag In-School program and Stay in The Game Network! Students received hands-on instruction through football drills, stations, contests and more.
American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Visit
The Browns visited the Joseph S. & Jeannette M. Silber Hope Lodge which provides free accommodation for cancer patients and their caregivers, located near top cancer treatment centers. G Michael Dunn and RB Nyheim Hines toured the recently renovated space, engaged with patients and served dinner, provided by Cleveland Huddle vendors Sweet Fix Bakery and Beckham's Bar-B-Que.
Garfield Heights Field Dedication
Browns QB Jameis Winston attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new GHHS football field, celebrating the school district's progress. The event, supported by the Cleveland Browns, the Haslam Family, and the Johnson Family, highlighted the commitment to improving student-athlete experiences.
University Hospitals Visit
During the team's annual Browns Give Back Tuesday visit, Nyheim Hines, kicker Dustin Hopkins, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II and wide receiver Elijah Moore, visited and shared gifts with oncology patients receiving treatment for various types of cancer at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital as well as the UH Seidman Cancer Center.
3rd Annual Halloween Fashion Show
Serving as a culmination of the month's Crucial Catch activations, the Browns partnered with the Littlest Heroes and University Hospitals to host patients battling cancer and other childhood illnesses for a night of Halloween festivities. 9 players attended the celebration and helped escort participants down the runway.
City of Cleveland Youth Summit
The Cleveland Browns partnered with the City of Cleveland to host the second annual City of Cleveland Youth Summit at Huntington Bank Field, welcoming nearly 200 students for a day of interactive workshops, creative projects, and youth empowerment with special appearances from Browns players, Ethan Pocic and Mike Ford Jr.
SITG! Cedric Tillman Halloween Visit
On October 29, 2024, Cedric Tillman, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, alongside the Cleveland Browns Foundation, visited Apex Academy for an exciting Halloween-themed event. The visit brought festive fun to the students, with Tillman engaging with them through games, activities, and personal interactions.
My Cause My Cleats Visit with Mo Hurst II
Browns DT Maurice Hurst II supported the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network through the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative. As an ambassador, he visited Orchard Park Academy to recognize students with strong attendance, allowing them to design a pair of cleats he wore in Week 13. Each student also received a custom pair of Nike Air Force 1s.
Thanksgiving at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank
On Nov. 25, the Browns partnered with Sugardale and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to provide nutritious meals to families ahead of Thanksgiving, with players, alumni, staff, and volunteers assisting at the Food Bank's Community Resource Center. Sugardale donated over 54,000 pounds of food, while the Browns rookie class as well as Joel Bitonio and Ethan Pocic, reinforced the team's commitment to fighting hunger in Northeast Ohio.
My Cause My Cleats
This season, over 35+ players participated in the NFL's MCMC program, highlighting organizations and causes important to them through custom cleat designs.
Denzel Ward: Walter Payton Man of the Year
Denzel Ward has been selected as the Browns' nominee for the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. Through his Make Them Know Your Name (MTKYN) Foundation, Ward honors his late father by promoting heart health awareness, securing AED accessibility in schools, and funding life-saving equipment for the community.
Rodney McLeod's Fill-A-Cart
Rodney McLeod and his 'Change Our Futures Foundation' invited 10 families to Meijer to shop for gifts and essentials ahead of the holiday season. Through this initiative, McLeod aimed to ease financial burdens and bring joy to families in need.
3rd Annual Grant Delpit Community Christmas Celebration
Grant Delpit welcomed families from the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and Lakeview Terrace community to celebrate the holiday season as part of his 3rd Annual Community Christmas Celebration. Families received gifts, enjoyed warm meals, participated in holiday activities and interacted with multiple Browns players.
Players' Foundations
JORDAN HICKS – TRUE STRENGTH ABILITY AWARENESS
The True Strength Ability Awareness Foundation seeks to champion young people with special needs by fostering strong, inclusive communities in Ohio and across the country, while also raising funds to help empower local Special Education departments. To learn more, visit https://www.truestrengthawareness.org/
DUSTIN HOPKINS – THE WELL FOUNDATION
Dustin's personal foundation aims to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus by serving Special Needs families and beyond. To learn more, visit https://www.instagram.com/thewellfdn/
RODNEY MCLEOD JR. – CHANGE OUR FUTURE FOUNDATION
Change Our Future is a youth development organization that seeks to remove barriers and labels placed on underserved communities by empowering people through education, advocacy and awareness. To learn more, visit https://changeourfuture.org/.
OGBONNIA OKORONKWO – THE OGBO OKORONKWO FOUNDATION
Created in 2022, The Ogbo Okoronkwo Foundation hosted its inaugural youth football camp focused on giving back to local youth in Houston, Texas. To see content of Ogbo's community work, visit https://www.instagram.com/obeezy/?hl=en
JEREMIAH-OWUSU-KOROMOAH – THE JOK CHARITABLE FUND/NKWA FOUNDATION
The JOK Charitable Fund is an impact investing fund created to support community and economic development opportunities in the US and Africa. To learn more, visit https://sagamoreinstitute.org/jok-fund
NKWA aims to provide equitable opportunity, while holistically educating student-athletes on the importance of a healthy mind, body and spirit – through the teachings of American Football. NKWA will accomplish this by building the bridge between the laws of sports and the core principles of life. To learn more, visit https://nkwa.jok.camp/
DORIAN THOMPSON-ROBINSON – DTR FOUNDATION
The DTR Foundation encourages participants to explore their strengths, overcome challenges, and build the confidence needed to navigate the complexities of the modern world. To learn more, visit https://www.thedtrfoundation.org/
CEDRIC TILLMAN & MO HURST II – SITG! AMBASSADORS
Cedric Tillman & Mo Hurst served as SITG! Ambassadors for the 2024-2025 season; helping to promote, participate in events and create awareness for the Cleveland Browns Foundation's, Stay in the Game! Network. To learn more, visit https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/community/stayinthegame/
DENZEL WARD – MAKE THEM KNOW YOUR NAME FOUNDATION
Created by Denzel Ward, the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation (MTKYN) helps provide resources to educate and activate people to take action when it comes to heart health. To learn more, visit https://mtkyn.org/
DESHAUN WATSON – THE DESHAUN WATSON FOUNDATION
Established by Deshaun in 2019, the Deshaun Watson Foundation is dedicated to education, health, housing, and other charitable causes that support families and youth in underserved communities. To learn more, visit https://www.deshaunwatsonfoundation.org/
JAMEIS WINSTON – THE JAMEIS WINSTON DREAM FOREVER FOUNDATION
The purpose of Jameis Winston's Dream Forever Foundation is to impact the lives of financially disadvantaged children and youth through encouragement, opportunities, and resources to develop and achieve their dreams. To learn more, visit https://jaboowins.com/