Browns media advisory – G Joel Bitonio hosts children from City of Cleveland Recreation Centers to “Shop with a Pro” at DICK’S Sporting Goods (12.9.19)
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*WHO: G Joel Bitonio
Cleveland Browns players
30 kids from City of Cleveland Recreation Centers
DICK’S Sporting Goods
Cleveland Browns mascot Chomps
*WHEN: 6-7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 9
WHERE: DICK’S Sporting Goods
200 Great Northern Boulevard
North Olmsted, Ohio 44070
WHAT: G Joel Bitonio will host 30 children from City of Cleveland Recreation Centers to “Shop with a Pro” at DICK’S Sporting Goods on Monday as part of the Browns’ continued effort to give back throughout the holiday season. Bitonio, who will be joined by his teammates as they volunteer and #give10 during Day 2 of Browns Give Back’s 10 Days of Giving, will help kids purchase holiday presents, with each child receiving $200 to spend on themselves, family and friends. Each child will also purchase a new pair of shoes.
The holiday shopping spree is made possible through the generosity of Bitonio and his wife, Courtney, as well as the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation.
Throughout “10 Days of Giving,” spanning Dec. 8-17, Browns players, coaches and staff will host unique community events and make special contributions to various organizations during the holiday season as part of the team’s yearlong commitment to education, youth football and inspiring others through its signature First and Ten volunteer movement.
The extended week of community engagement, initially inspired by the Browns’ signature #give10 First and Ten volunteer movement, has expanded in recent years to fully encompass the team’s commitment to supporting school attendance in Ohio through the “Get 2 School, Stay in the Game!” Network and its yearlong efforts to enhance youth and high school football throughout the state.
Through Browns Give Back, the Cleveland Browns are dedicated to #give10 through the team’s First and Ten initiative. Launched in June 2014, the Cleveland Browns First and Ten campaign is the team’s 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. 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 or to sign the pledge, 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 “Get 2 School, Stay in the Game!” Network. The “Get 2 School” Network is a statewide initiative designed to promote the importance of school attendance and put an end to chronic absenteeism. The team engages local schools 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. To learn more, 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, nearly two million hours of volunteering have been pledged through First and Ten. All Browns fans are encouraged to join the volunteer effort by signing the First and Ten pledge on the team’s website and by sharing their stories with #give10.
About DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation:
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with a mission to inspire and enable sports participation. It was created by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. as a private corporate foundation to support DICK’S charitable and philanthropic activities.
*Time subject to change