A giant yellow M&M emerged from backstage at the Kardiac Club at Huntington Bank Field, standing next to an unusually short Myles Garrett.
Browns G Michael Dunn, the M&M, smiled and waved as he walked down the runway next to Andrew, a young child donning a Garrett jersey and holding a football. Andrew was one of 18 children battling cancer who participated in the annual Cleveland Browns Halloween Fashion Show on Oct. 22.
"This event means so much to me," Dunn said. "I truly look forward to this night every single year. In all the years that I've been here, this is always a special one for us. The kids here are truly the strongest, toughest kids out there and what they go through just really puts everything into perspective. It's really cool for them to have this special night where they feel like the stars."
The Halloween Fashion Show, which is in its third year, benefits kids served by The Littlest Heroes and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's in celebration of the NFL's Crucial Catch initiative.
The Littlest Heroes – a Cleveland-based nonprofit organization – provides emergency financial support for families battling pediatric cancer and other childhood illnesses. For the past 20 years, over 10,000 lives across Northeast Ohio have been impacted by the organization's assistance and efforts.
As part of the Browns partnership with The Littlest Heroes and University Hospitals, eight Browns players – including Dunn, G Joel Bitonio, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, CB Cameron Mitchell, C Ethan Pocic, LB Winston Reid, LS Rex Sunahara and WR Cedric Tillman – dressed up and joined children dressed up in costumes from Harry Potter to a velociraptor on the runway.
Each participant had their name announced by Senior Media Broadcaster Nathan Zegura – dressed up as Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski – and were showered with cheers and applause from the crowd as they showed off their costumes and posed for a photo.
Dunn, who has been with the Browns since he was drafted in 2020, said that he still talks to several of the children and families he has met through the Halloween Fashion Show, saying "it becomes bigger than just a one-night event."
The Cleveland Browns Halloween Fashion Show took place on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The 2024 Halloween Fashion Show on October 22, 2024 in the Kardiac Club of Huntington Bank Field.
The Browns have a strong partnership with University Hospitals, with the Halloween Fashion Show just one example of the team's dedication to serving children facing unimaginable challenges. The Browns' commitment to raising awareness and funds for cancer research is part of a league-wide effort under the Crucial Catch campaign, which was established in 2009.
"This event means everything to the Cleveland Browns because it takes our players off the field to meet with some of our youngest fans who are going through some really challenging times," Browns Vice President of Community Relations Jenner Tekancic said. "Throughout the entire month of October, we've been joining the NFL for the Crucial Catch movement, and this is just one night that's super special for everyone involved."
From University Hospital visits to the Halloween Fashion Show and the inclusion during Crucial Catch game, the Browns' partnership with UH is meaningful for both parties, and most importantly, the families battling cancer. Rainbow Community Outreach and Patient Support Program Coordinator at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Michelle Rothstein said that events like the Halloween Fashion Show help the patients feel special as they had the opportunity to spend time with Browns players.
"This is my favorite event that we do every year. The patients and families have a blast. They think it's really special to get to meet a player. All I hear from families is 'thank you.' They're just so appreciative of everything. And the players give up their time to come spend time with them and make them feel special, and they get to be the stars," Rothstein said. "It gets to be focused on the kids, and they get to feel super special. The relationships that come out of it are special."
The Fashion Show ended with an opportunity to trick-or-treat around the Kardiac Club. As costumed children walked around the room, Dunn held his 16-month-old daughter, who, like her father, was dressed as an M&M.
"I'm not as cute of an M&M as her, but you know," Dunn joked.
From signing autographs to tossing a small football with some of the children, the impact of the event on Dunn was evident.
"This is something that you realize how fortunate of a position you are in and it's always cool to be able to give back and do what you can do to help other people," Dunn said. "This is just an experience that really means a lot to me, and I know to so many of the kids."
