The Cleveland Browns are committed to the community. Through First and Ten, the Dawg Pound is encouraged to share what they are doing to give back. Get inspired and check out what these fans are doing to help their community:
**How do you give back?
give10**
Name: Kayla Keys
Hometown: Columbus, OH
How they give back: An organization Kayla is involved with encourages its members to get involved with community. She took this opportunity to involve herself with a program that involves all my interests including: dance, children, and community. In September, she began working with ArtSparks as well. It is very grassroot, supported by community members to help grow the artistic talents of those involved. The space is perfect for those who can't afford technical training, but are passionate about dance and what they do to invoke a positive feeling in others that connects people from all backgrounds and walks of life. For her volunteering doesn't feel like a drag or an assignment but a civic allowance. She is treated as a member of the staff so for her it feels like home. Kayla also volunteers at city animal shelters, churches, cookie collecting donations and other opportunities offered through her current organization for the students during the school year.
Name: Amy Beichler
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, OH
How they give back: Amy is more than committed to helping her community as well as the children and animals in it. By educating children on kindness to animals, rescuing stray and abused animals throughout Northeast Ohio, spearheading stronger animal cruelty laws, fostering rescued animals and implementing low cost spay and neuter clinics. She works directly with the Public Animal Welfare Society to ensure the health and safety of those who she cares most about.
Name: Amy Hissa
Hometown: Burton, OH
How they give back: Amy became involved with the Yoder Brothers Foundation after one member of the family passed away shortly after high school. His family created the scholarship and she was honored to be one of the first three recipients of the scholarship. She has been volunteering for 20 year since then to give back a portion of what had been given to her. She is grateful for the impact the foundation has on the lives of the young people by providing financial support for their college endeavors which will eventually lead to their future and help write their stories about the paths the journey of their lives took. Her work with the organization has been fulfilling and has opened her eyes to all the need out there. When the students graduate and go on to do big things it makes her feel good inside. She also volunteers with her church and a local school's PTO.
Name: Melinda Dragomier
Hometown: Massillon, OH
How they give back: Melinda volunteers with the God's Tiny Angels Support Group, a local non-profit Christian organization that serves the communities in Stark County. They were founded in 2004 and provided support to families who have experienced the loss of a child. They have monthly support group meetings, which are free and open to the public. Last year they decided to expand their outreach into what they call Angels in Action. At various monthly meetings they do different projects to raise awareness and promote healing. Some of the projects include painting rocks with inspirational pictures or messages and hiding them around the community. They also created sympathy cards to be sent to local families who have experienced the loss of a child. Their annual walk-a-thon is their only fundraiser of the year. They use the money raised to help them support grieving families throughout the year. They do this by assisting families with the costs of cremation and funeral services. They are proud to say that they've been able to help every family that has come to them for financial assistance.
Name: Gary Sellars
Hometown: Sam Houston, TX
How they give back: Gary is in the Army and is currently serving as a recruiter in the Greater Cleveland area. Outside of his military service he's most proud of donating a kidney to his father, a former Marine. He then returned to duty after the tragic events of September 11th, he then went on to be deployed to Panama leading medical teams and helping support humanitarian efforts for the Panamanian government. Now that he is in Cleveland he has volunteered his time with the USO of Northern Ohio and other nonprofits as well as getting his Doctorate of Education.
Interested in signing up your volunteer group for First and Ten? Group forms available! **Click here**_ to learn more about how to #give10_
Follow @BrownsGiveBack on Twitter and Instagram and tell us what you are doing to help others using #give10 to unite us all as Browns fans. Give 10 hours, help your community.
The Browns are dedicated to #give10 through the team's First and Ten initiative. Launched in June 2014, the Cleveland Browns First and Ten campaign is the team's community program, established to inspire fans to volunteer in and help their communities throughout the world by volunteering for 10 hours each year. Since its inception, Browns fans have committed to volunteering more than 1.5 million hours to impact their communities by pledging to #give10. Through First and Ten, the Browns are the only NFL club to promote a long-term volunteering program that unifies the team and its entire fan base, with the goal of impacting every individual's city across the globe, as well as the franchise's local community. All Browns fans are encouraged to join the volunteering effort by signing the First and Ten pledge on the team's website and by sharing their stories with #give10
