Cleveland Browns players welcome Mentor Ridge Middle School students to their training facility
Ten years ago the NFL launched their NFL PLAY 60 youth health and fitness campaign. The goal was to encourage the young people of America to commit to 60 minutes of physical activity each and every day. Since its beginning the NFL has partnered with academic, scientific and non-profit organizations that include the American Heart Association, National Dairy Council, Special Olympics, Shriner’s Hospitals for children, St. Jude and the United Way to expand the program to children of all abilities.
This fall, through the efforts of the Cleveland Browns PLAY 60 Challenge and in association with University Hospitals nearly 4,500 student participants have logged more than 7.5 million minutes of physical activity in the Northeast Ohio area.
The six week program designed for second through eighth grade students not only encourages physical activity but also teaches proper eating habits to go along with the physical activity.
This past Tuesday, DB Jason McCourty and DL T.Y. McGill used their day off from practice to return to the Cleveland Browns training center in Berea, Ohio to meet with students and faculty from the Mentor Ridge Middle School who earned the distinction as the top class of the Cleveland Browns PLAY 60 Challenge.
The group was given a special tour of the training facility that included stops at the media room, front office area, cafeteria and field house. It was here that the students participated with the Cleveland Browns players in a variety of fast paced football drills.
The volunteer effort of the Cleveland Browns staff and players is part of the Browns Give Back program and #Give10 that is part of the team’s First and Ten Initiative. This program began in June of 2014 and encourages fans worldwide to sign up on their website (by clicking on “Community”) and donating ten hours a year in community service. Once they finish with their commitment they are invited to return to the website and share their experiences with others.
For more information, visit ClevelandBrowns.com/community.