Cleveland Browns dedicate latest re-turfed field and announce further charitable programs
On May 9, 2016 Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam announced their personal funding of the resurfacing of five area high school athletic fields with state of the art artificial turf as well as scoreboards. Today marked the dedication of the last fields involved in the year and a half project.
Dignitaries met for the unveiling of the newly renovated John Adams High School field that included Cleveland Browns owner Dee Haslam, CMSD CEO Eric Gordon, City of Cleveland Executive Assistant to the Mayor Martin Flask, City of Cleveland Ward 2 Representative Zack Reed, MUNY League Director Jason Dunn as well as John Adams high School students and faculty. Representing the Cleveland Browns players was Christian Kirksey with an appearance by Duke Johnson, Jr. who was there to lend support.
John Adams High School joins John Marshall High School, Roye Kidd Stadium, James F. Rhodes Stadium and Bump Taylor Stadium as the recipients of the new high tech field surfaces. The fields will become in essence outdoor laboratories that will allow physical education classes as well as multiple sports to be played on their surfaces. Local communities groups such as the MUNY League will also have access to the facilities.
The Cleveland Browns have made a solid commitment in assisting in the development, safety and growth of youth and high school football throughout Northeast Ohio by providing year round programs for players, coaches, official and parents. These programs take the form of various camps, clinics and other initiatives in order to develop and promote healthy, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of youth by enhancing opportunities for youth football participation and education.
Also announced today was the multiple changes to the Cleveland Browns Pro Shops located at FirstEnergy Stadium that will be donating all of its net proceeds from items purchased in order to support the Cleveland Browns Give Back commitment to education and youth football. The program will begin retroactively back to April 1 2017 with 100% of the Cleveland Browns net proceeds from product sales at FirstEnergy Stadium Pro Shop on gamedays and throughout the year will go to benefit educational initiatives and additional neighborhood field projects similar to the one celebrated at John Adams High School.
“Throughout the Browns organization, we will always emphasize that one of our most important responsibilities is to maximize the special opportunities we have to represent Cleveland and make a meaningful impact within our community,” said Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “By donating all our proceeds from the Pro Shop, we have a unique avenue for our team and incredible fans to support our city, including through important educational and developmental projects like installing five CMSD multipurpose-use neighborhood fields.”
Another part of the program will allow Browns fans to round up the final sale price to the next full dollar amount of which that money will also be contributed as part of the Browns Give Back support of local education non-profits through the Cleveland Browns Foundation. This collected money will be used to purchase new shoes, clothes and school supplies throughout the year to be distributed at no charge to thousands of children in need.
The fans also catch a break as prices on 338 items within the Browns Pro Shop have been decreased in 2017 with the average deduction at 25%. Note that this program is only in effect at the Cleveland Browns Pro Shop at First Energy Stadium and is not applicable to transactions involving Cleveland Browns merchandise online or from other NFL licensed retailers. The Cleveland Browns Pro Shop is located on the south side of the stadium.