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Browns present $7,500 NFL After School Kickoff Grant to Euclid Rec Center
EUCLID —** Danny Shelton worked up a sweat on a warm, sunny Tuesday at Arbor Elementary School while leading one of several exercise stations as part of the NFL's PLAY 60 campaign.
Shelton's choice of workout? Zumba, of course.
"It was awesome out here. It was my first time leading a Zumba class so I crushed it. I don't need to get my license (to teach Zumba) so I led that class with all I got," he said. "My feet were burning. I had three-pound dumbbells — gotta use what you got — and we just went after it. Those kids were awesome."
Shelton, quarterback Josh McCown, right guard Joel Bitonio, linebacker Nate Orchard, running back Raheem Mostert, defensive back K'Waun Williams and offensive lineman Kaleb Johnson were part of a special assembly, speaking to students about the importance of staying active and healthy.
And on behalf of the NFL, NFL Network and the Browns, they presented the Euclid Recreation Department with a $7,500 NFL PLAY 60 After-School Kickoff grant for health and wellness programming or equipment.
As part of the NFL and Browns' Play 60 campaign — a nationwide initiative to promote youth health and wellness by getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day — the Browns spearheaded a minicamp that included Shelton's makeshift Zumba class, pass-and-catch drills, jump ropes and hula hoops. The Euclid Recreation Department plays a key role in offering the community a wealth of after-school programs that get kids out and active.
"We had three-pound dumbbells (at our disposal) so my mindset was trying to get the workout in. The songs just popped in my head, just started dancing," Shelton said.
"We did some of the dance moves the kids are doing. We made it fun and made sure they know you can work hard and burn calories and have fun at the same time. That was kind of like the whole thing, you know, kind of with the Zumba class. It's really fun — I've never done it — but it was pretty awesome to be out here."
The Browns PLAY 60 movement, contributing to the NFL's nationwide initiative to promote youth health and wellness by getting active at least 60 minutes each day, is in association with University Hospitals and American Dairy Association Mideast and Fuel Up to Play 60. The Browns actively bring PLAY 60 to the local community throughout the year to ensure kids and families are learning about and taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle.
"Going off of statistics the U.S. is sadly is one of the countries that have the most obesity (rates) in children. I was always big as a kid. I wanted to be able to come out here and show them that you can be big and be active and have fun. That was really it," Shelton said.
"Play 60 is a great cause, it's great for these kids to understand that you have to be active with the new technology out these days. You can easily get stuck doing Skype or Facebook, Instagram, XBOX. Instead of working your fingers, you're getting out and being active."
The Browns PLAY 60 movement, contributing to the NFL's nationwide initiative to promote youth health and wellness by getting active at least 60 minutes each day, is in association with University Hospitals and American Dairy Association Mideast and Fuel Up to Play 60.
The Browns actively bring PLAY 60 to the local community throughout the year to ensure kids and families are learning about and taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle.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.
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.