Cleveland Browns players use their day off to bring smiles
After suffering a 35-14 drubbing at the hands of the San Diego Chargers this past Sunday you would understand why the Cleveland Browns players would like to keep a low profile for a few days but the Cleveland Browns are not like any other team. That is why this past October 16th Tuesday three players: Kicker Greg Joseph, Wide Receiver Damion Ratley and Defensive Back Howard Wilson showed up for a visit with 3rd grade students at CMSD’s Case Elementary School. They were joined by Cleveland Brown Mascot Chomps.
The four were there for three reasons. The first to encourage the students not to miss a single day of school. The second was to participate in team building exercises and the third to distribute much needed “Special Teams Packages” that consisted of three school uniforms, one casual outfit as well as socks, underwear and a shoe gift card. school uniforms, shoe gift cards and after school apparel to the 23 members of the class.
The “Special Teams Package” program is in partnership with Browns Give Back and Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) that provides CMSD students in economic hardship with necessary clothing items as part of the “Get 2 School. You Can Make it!” campaign.
To date a total of 6,000 “Special Teams Packages” have been distributed through the program with another 2,000 expected to be placed in the first semester alone.
After introductions and a stay in school pep talk by the players they got down to business as teams of students along with the players worked to solve the problem of building a marshmallow tower using the sugary treats along with Halloween candy and toothpicks.
Team three bested the others with a tower measuring 8 ½ inches tall. It was then time to distribute the “Special Teams Packages” as the children where all smiles as they saw what clothes they had received.
This visit is part of the Cleveland Browns #give10 program that is part of the First and Ten initiative that encourages fans around the world to pledge ten hours of volunteer community service on the team’s web site. After completing their pledge they are invited back to share their experiences.