During the summer, the Browns were on a secret "donation" mission throughout Northeast Ohio. Thirteen (13) high school football programs in 13 different counties were each gifted with over $10,000 worth of football equipment. Gloves, cleats, practice jerseys, game pants, and arm sleeves were all part of this special care package! The 13 schools were each selected because they had the highest rate of eligibility for CEP (free and reduced lunch) in their county. Of the 13 schools chosen, 10 of them have at least 50% eligibility for CEP.
Along with the equipment donation, each coach was gifted with a locker room nameplate. Not only a nice gift for each team, but also a symbol of these schools joining our huddle! This nameplate also represents the commitment to service by these schools. All 13 schools have committed to community service projects. This includes, tornado clean up, reading to elementary students, and assisting first responders!
One of the 13 schools selected, Chaney High School, will be competing at the varsity level for the first time since 2011 this year. Due to the donation from the Cleveland Browns, this will allow Chaney an opportunity to get back on their feet.
"'It means the world," said Chaney head coach Chris Amill, "just being an inner city school and sometimes we're left out of a lot of things, and for the program starting up, everything we're trying to do, this is great.
"So for the Browns to call and say they were coming in to give a lot of things they said they were going to give. Gloves, spikes, practice jerseys, even for some of our bigger guys, it meant the world to me."
About the Cleveland Browns and Browns Give Back:
The Browns Give Back to Northeast Ohio with a commitment to education and youth football while engaging the community through the team's signature First and Ten volunteer movement. For more information, visit www.clevelandbrowns.com/brownsgiveback.
Education – The Cleveland Browns are dedicated to improving the quality of education for students in Ohio by making investments that keep kids in school every day so they can succeed. The team engages school districts and promotes quality education by using attendance data and feedback from families to build a school-going culture, uncover and reduce common barriers to attendance and support engagement opportunities for students to thrive.
Youth Football – The Cleveland Browns are committed to assisting the development, safety and growth of youth and high school football throughout Northeast Ohio with year-round programming for players, coaches, officials and parents. Through camps, clinics and other initiatives, the Browns' goal is to promote healthy, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of youth by enhancing opportunities for youth football participation and education.
First and Ten – Launched in June 2014, the Cleveland Browns First and Ten campaign is the team's community program, established to inspire fans to #give10 and help their communities by volunteering for 10 hours each year. 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. To date, more than 1.5 million hours of volunteering have been pledged through First and Ten. 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.
About #BrownsHuddleFor100
In honor of the NFL's 100th Season, First and Ten is joining the League's efforts to Huddle for 100. Inspiring 1 million people to volunteer 100 minutes in their communities.
