This past Tuesday, Cleveland Browns players visited The Centers for Families and Children's Bingham Early Learning Center located in Cleveland. Browns players includingLB Darius Eubanks,WR Taylor Gabriel,LB Chris Kirksey,LB Craig Robertson,LB Jabaal Sheard and LS Christian Yount visited 30 pre-kindergarten children (3-5 years old) to participate in fun activities the students can do in the classroom as well as at home with their parents. During the event, Browns players and preschoolers engaged in educational activities such as playing informational computer games, reading interactive books and building in play area.
The visit was established to bring awareness to The Centers for Families and Children (The Centers) 2,000 Days Pledge. The 2,000 Days Pledge is an educational promise between teachers and parents pledging to give their child the best early learning experiences possible during the first 2,000 Days, putting their child on the right path to college and career. The initiative is supported by Cleveland Browns Foundation and other lead partners including,the United Way Women's Leadership Council and PNC. Visit 2000dayspledge.org to learn more about the Pledge.
At the start of the 2014 school year, an estimated 60 percent of children in Ohio were underprepared to begin Kindergarten. The evidence is overwhelming - success in life starts with the right foundation in the early years. There are only 2,000 days in a child's life before the first day of Kindergarten and 90 percent of a child's brain development happens in these critical first 2,000 days – before a child even meets a Kindergarten teacher. This means that parents are the first teachers and the family home is the first classroom.
The 2,000 Days Pledge is a clear, simple way to get at the heart of what is really important so that parents can make good decisions on the choices that matter, and teachers and parents can find an easier way to come together as effective partners in young children's success. Players and families joined together to sign the 2,000 Days Pledge and displayed their commitment to education during the pivotal early stages of their children's lives.
The Centers has nearly 900 children enrolled in nine early-learning centers and home-based programs across Greater Cleveland. The Centers is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio, serving more than 20,000 people annually in the community.
The Centers also serves as a First and Ten community partner. Launched in June 2014, the Cleveland Browns First and Ten campaign is the team's new 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.
About the Cleveland Browns Foundation
The Cleveland Browns Foundation is dedicated to a solution-based, holistic approach to ensure Northeast Ohio youth receive the development and education they need as a foundation for independence and success. Established in 1999, the Cleveland Browns Foundation envisions a community where all youth receive a high-quality education, from early childhood through college graduation. With education as the primary focus, the Foundation aims to identify and eliminate the barriers affecting students' readiness to learn so all individuals can reach their maximum potential and make a positive long term impact on Northeast Ohio.
