Browns, Medliminal launch First and Ten Grants program to inspire volunteerism (9.8.20)

For Immediate Release

Sept. 8, 2020

BEREA, Ohio – With the first week of the NFL season officially underway, the Browns begin their regular “First and Ten Tuesday” visits today, which will occur in 2020 through virtual and digital formats, as the team’s players, coaches and staff continue their commitment to volunteering and improving the Northeast Ohio community while inspiring others to do the same. Given unique circumstances this season, Browns Give Back’s First and Ten Tuesdays will combine direct engagement with team personnel through virtual interactions and raising awareness through Cleveland’s website and social media platforms on a weekly basis.

Through the “First and Ten” volunteering movement, established to encourage fans to #give10 and help their communities by volunteering for at least 10 hours each year, the Browns are proud to partner with Medliminal to launch a new grant program, benefiting 10 deserving organizations that strive to make a difference in Northeast Ohio. Fans can nominate a local non-profit organization on the Browns Give Back website to be considered for one $5,000 grant, one $3,000 grant or one of eight available $1,500 grants to provide additional resources to their active community initiatives.

“We greatly appreciate all of our fans who have pledged to join us in contributing more than 2.75 million volunteering hours in Northeast Ohio and across the world since launching the First and Ten campaign in 2014,” said Vice President of Community Relations Jenner Tekancic. “While the Browns have been honored to donate to many local community partners over the years, as well as raise awareness for impactful causes, we are excited to take First and Ten to a new level, in collaboration with Medliminal, through this special grant program. Our collective goal is to continually inspire fans to be leaders by helping their communities on a regular basis.”

“Medliminal is proud to partner with the Cleveland Browns for the First and Ten and grants campaign to encourage volunteerism in the greater Cleveland area,” said Jim Napoli, CEO of Medliminal.

First and Ten grant applications will be accepted through Friday, Nov. 13. The new grant process is designed to celebrate the people, organizations, and projects that better Northeast Ohio neighborhoods by providing them with opportunities to advance and extend the meaningful work that they do throughout the year.

The Cleveland Browns First and Ten movement gives fans the opportunity to create awareness for causes important to them. When each person can commit to give 10 hours and help their respective communities, they will in turn make their communities better and inspire others to do the same.

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. To date, more than 2.75 million hours of volunteering have been pledged through First and Ten. 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.

For more information, visit www.clevelandbrowns.com/brownsgiveback.

About the Cleveland Browns and Browns Give Back:

The Browns Give Back to Northeast Ohio with a commitment to education and youth football while engaging the community through the team’s signature First and Ten volunteer movement. For more information, visit www.clevelandbrowns.com/brownsgiveback.

Education – The Cleveland Browns are dedicated to improving the quality of education for students in Ohio by making investments that keep kids in school every day so they can succeed, highlighted by the “Stay in the Game! Keep Learning, Every Day” Network. The “Stay in the Game!” Network is a statewide initiative designed to promote the importance of school attendance and put an end to chronic absenteeism. The team engages local school districts and promotes quality education by using attendance data and feedback from families to build a school-going culture, uncover and reduce common barriers to attendance and support engagement opportunities for students to thrive. In the 2020-21 school year, the “Stay in the Game!” Network will partner with 14 school districts, benefitting nearly 90,000 students in Ohio. An adaptation of the “Get 2 School, Stay In The Game!” Network, the name change reflects the current environment where schools may not necessarily be able to host in-school learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No matter the circumstances, the “Stay in the Game!” Network will continue to encourage and support students to maintain a strong educational-going mindset to keep learning, every day, aligned with its overall goal to help end chronic absenteeism and provide all students equal opportunities to be successful. To learn more visit, visit Get2School.org.

Youth Football – The Cleveland Browns are committed to assisting the development, safety and growth of youth and high school football throughout Northeast Ohio with year-round programming for players, coaches, officials and parents. Through camps, clinics and other initiatives, the Browns’ goal is to promote healthy, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of youth by enhancing opportunities for youth football participation and education.

First and Ten – Launched in June 2014, the Cleveland Browns First and Ten campaign is the team’s community program, established to inspire fans to #give10 and help their communities 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. To date, more than 2.75 million hours of volunteering have been pledged through First and Ten. 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.

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