Month of Giving Impacts Community Positively Via the Cleveland Browns

Each December, the Cleveland Browns turn their focus beyond the football field to a tradition that has become a cornerstone of their community engagement: the “Month of Giving.” This year’s initiative, spanning the entire month, brought together players, coaches, staff, and fans to support vulnerable populations across Northeast Ohio—from families struggling with food insecurity to children in need of holiday gifts. What began as a small toy drive a decade ago has grown into a multi-faceted campaign that delivers tangible, lasting change, reinforcing the Browns’ role as more than a sports franchise, but a dedicated community partner. Month of Giving Impacts Community Positively Via the Cleveland Browns explores the key projects of this year’s campaign, the passion driving participants, and how these efforts are strengthening the bond between the team and the city it calls home.

The Month of Giving’s 2024 theme—“Strength in Community”—focused on addressing three critical needs in Northeast Ohio: food access, youth development, and housing stability. To tackle food insecurity, the Browns partnered with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to host 10 drive-thru food distributions across the region. At each event, families received 25-pound boxes of non-perishable goods, fresh produce, and holiday meal kits (complete with turkeys and fixings) to ensure they could celebrate the season without worry. The team also organized a “Fill the Locker Room” challenge, inviting fans to drop off canned goods at Paycor Stadium during home games; by month’s end, over 50,000 pounds of food had been collected, enough to feed 41,000 people. For youth development, the Browns teamed up with local schools to host “Holiday Hope” events, where players visited classrooms to hand out backpacks filled with school supplies, books, and toys. In housing support, the team partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build two homes in Brook Park, with players and staff volunteering their time on weekends to lay flooring, paint walls, and assemble furniture. “This month isn’t about publicity,” said Browns President Paul DePodesta. “It’s about showing up for the people who support us every Sunday. We want to meet them where they need us most.” Month of Giving Impacts Community Positively Via the Cleveland Browns notes that every project was designed with input from local nonprofits, ensuring efforts aligned with real, unmet needs.

A highlight of this year’s Month of Giving was the active participation of Browns players, who didn’t just lend their names to initiatives but rolled up their sleeves to volunteer alongside community members. Star defensive end Myles Garrett spent a Saturday morning at a food distribution in East Cleveland, loading cars with meal kits and chatting with families about their holiday plans. “Hearing a kid say they’re excited to have a turkey for Christmas? That’s why we do this,” Garrett said in a post-event interview. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, fresh off his standout debut, joined a group of rookies at a local elementary school for a “Read & Play” session, reading holiday stories to students and leading a mini football clinic in the gym. Even coaches got involved: Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff helped wrap gifts at a toy drive for kids in foster care, with Stefanski noting, “Football is temporary, but the impact we have here lasts a lifetime.” The Browns also encouraged fan participation by hosting a “Volunteer Day” at Paycor Stadium, where over 300 fans joined players to assemble care packages for homeless veterans. These moments of direct interaction—players and fans working side-by-side—turned the Month of Giving into a shared experience, not just a team-led effort. Month of Giving Impacts Community Positively Via the Cleveland Browns emphasizes that this hands-on approach has made the campaign more meaningful, as it lets community members see the team’s humanity beyond the gridiron.

For the Cleveland Browns, the Month of Giving is more than an annual tradition—it’s a reflection of the franchise’s core values, which prioritize “service above self” as much as on-field success. The team’s ownership, the Haslam family, has long emphasized that community engagement is a responsibility, not an option; this year, they donated $250,000 to match funds raised by player and fan initiatives, doubling the campaign’s impact. The Browns also use the Month of Giving to mentor younger players about the importance of giving back, pairing rookies with veterans who have been involved in community work for years. “When I first joined the team, Myles [Garrett] took me to a food bank and told me, ‘This is part of being a Brown,’” said Sanders. “It’s not just about playing well—it’s about using this platform to help others.” For the Cleveland Browns, these efforts also pay dividends in team culture: volunteering together builds camaraderie among players, creating a sense of purpose that extends beyond wins and losses. A 2023 survey of Browns players found that 95% cited the Month of Giving as one of their favorite off-field activities, saying it helped them feel more connected to Cleveland. Month of Giving Impacts Community Positively Via the Cleveland Browns notes that this alignment of values—team, players, and community working toward a common goal—has made the campaign a sustainable success.

The Cleveland Browns’ Month of Giving has left a lasting positive mark on local communities, with stories of hope and gratitude emerging from every project. In Akron, a single mother of three named Maria received a food box and a backpack of toys for her kids during a distribution. “I was worried we wouldn’t have a Christmas this year,” she said, holding back tears. “The Browns didn’t just give us food—they gave us hope.” In Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, the two Habitat for Humanity homes built by the team were handed over to families who had been homeless for years; one new homeowner, James, a Navy veteran, said, “To have players help build my house? It’s surreal. This isn’t just a home—it’s a fresh start.” Local nonprofits also reported long-term benefits: the Greater Cleveland Food Bank noted that the Browns’ donations would help them meet increased demand in January, typically one of the hardest months for food insecurity. The schools that hosted “Holiday Hope” events saw a boost in student morale, with teachers reporting more engagement in class after players’ visits. For the Cleveland Browns, these stories are the true measure of the Month of Giving’s success—not the number of donations, but the lives changed. Month of Giving Impacts Community Positively Via the Cleveland Browns explores how these personal connections are strengthening the team’s legacy in Cleveland, turning casual fans into lifelong supporters who see the Browns as part of their community fabric.

Looking ahead, the Cleveland Browns are committed to expanding the Month of Giving and deepening their community impact in the years to come. Plans for 2025 include adding a “Job Readiness” component, where players will host workshops on resume building and interview skills for young adults, and partnering with local colleges to offer scholarships for students pursuing careers in social work. The team also aims to involve more fans by launching a “Virtual Volunteer” program, allowing those who can’t attend in-person events to help with tasks like writing holiday cards for seniors or sorting donations online. “The Month of Giving has grown because our fans have embraced it,” said DePodesta. “We want to keep finding new ways for everyone to participate, so this becomes a community-wide movement, not just a team initiative.” For the Cleveland Browns, this expansion is part of a larger goal: to make Northeast Ohio a better place to live, work, and raise a family. By tying their success to the community’s success, the Browns are ensuring that the Month of Giving remains a vital tradition for decades to come. Month of Giving Impacts Community Positively Via the Cleveland Browns concludes that in a world where sports often focus on fame and fortune, the Browns’ Month of Giving stands out as a reminder of the good that can happen when a team uses its platform to lift others up. For Cleveland, it’s more than a holiday tradition—it’s a symbol of hope, unity, and the power of community.