Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns

As the holiday season arrives in Cleveland, the Cleveland Browns are once again stepping up to support their community with the launch of their annual “Month of Giving”—a month-long initiative that brings players, coaches, staff, and fans together to address local needs, from food insecurity to youth empowerment. What began as a small food drive a decade ago has grown into a cornerstone of the Browns’ community engagement, touching thousands of lives each year and reinforcing the team’s commitment to being more than just a football organization. This year’s Month of Giving features 12 signature events, each designed to lift up different parts of the Cleveland community, from downtown neighborhoods to suburban areas. Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns isn’t just a seasonal campaign; it’s a reflection of the team’s core values—unity, compassion, and service—and a reminder that football’s greatest impact often happens off the field.

Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns kicked off with a flagship event at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, where over 50 Browns players, coaches, and front office staff spent a Saturday morning sorting and packing non-perishable food items. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has been a vocal advocate for food security, led the effort, helping to pack 10,000 meal boxes that will be distributed to families in need across Cuyahoga County. “Growing up, I saw how hard it was for some families to put food on the table, so this work hits close to home,” Watson said during the event. “The Month of Giving isn’t just about giving back—it’s about showing the community that we’re right here with them, fighting for the same things they are.” The food bank event also included a donation drive, where fans who brought canned goods received a free Browns-themed tote bag and a chance to take photos with players. By the end of the day, the team and fans had collected over 5,000 pounds of food, enough to feed 4,200 families for a week. Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns because this opening event set the tone for the month—collaborative, impactful, and rooted in a desire to support Cleveland’s most vulnerable residents.

Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns continued with a focus on youth, as the team partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland to host a “Holiday Joy Day” at the East Side Clubhouse. Players like running back Nick Chubb and tight end David Njoku spent the afternoon playing games with kids, helping them decorate holiday cookies, and distributing gifts—including backpacks filled with school supplies and Browns-themed toys. The team also announced a $50,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs, which will fund after-school programs focused on STEM and sports education. “Kids are the future of Cleveland, and we want to give them every opportunity to succeed,” Chubb said, as he helped a 9-year-old named Mia decorate a cookie shaped like a football. “Events like this let us connect with them on a personal level—not as players, but as people who care about their dreams.” For many of the kids, the day was their first chance to meet NFL players, and the excitement was palpable: one boy showed Njoku a drawing he’d made of the tight end scoring a touchdown, while another asked Watson for advice on becoming a quarterback. Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns because this youth-focused event highlighted the team’s long-term investment in the community, ensuring that Cleveland’s kids have the support they need to thrive.

Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns also included a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland to build and repair homes for low-income families. Over 30 Browns staff members—including head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry—spent two days working on a three-bedroom home in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood, installing drywall, painting rooms, and landscaping the yard. The team donated $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity to fund the project, which will be given to a single mother of two who has lived in Cleveland for 15 years. “Homeownership is a cornerstone of stability, and too many Cleveland families don’t have access to safe, affordable housing,” Stefanski said, wiping paint off his hands during a break. “Being here, working alongside Habitat volunteers and the future homeowner, reminds us why this work matters—it’s about giving families a place to call their own.” The Cleveland Browns’ involvement in the project also inspired local businesses to donate materials, with a local hardware store providing free paint and lumber. By the end of the second day, the home was nearly move-in ready, and the future homeowner—who attended the event to thank the team—teared up as she walked through the finished living room. Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns because this Habitat for Humanity partnership showed the team’s commitment to addressing systemic issues like housing inequality, using their resources to create lasting change in the community.

Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns expanded to support local veterans with a “Veterans Appreciation Day” at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. Players and cheerleaders visited with veterans, handed out care packages filled with warm socks, toiletries, and Browns memorabilia, and listened to their stories of service. The team also donated $75,000 to the VA’s Homeless Veterans Program, which provides housing, job training, and mental health support to veterans experiencing homelessness. “Veterans have given so much to our country, and it’s our turn to give back to them,” said Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who spent an hour talking to a Navy veteran about his time serving overseas. “Hearing their stories—about sacrifice, courage, and resilience—reminds us of the values that make Cleveland such a great city.” The event also included a performance by the Browns Drumline, which played patriotic songs and team anthems, bringing smiles to the faces of veterans and staff alike. One Air Force veteran, who has been a Browns fan since the 1960s, said the visit made him “feel seen and appreciated.” Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns because this veterans-focused event honored those who have served, while also addressing a critical need in the community—ensuring that veterans have access to the support they deserve.

Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns wrapped up with a “Community Celebration” at FirstEnergy Stadium, where the team invited all the organizations they’d partnered with—along with the families and individuals who’d benefited from the month’s events—to a special gathering. Attendees enjoyed food from local restaurants, music from the Browns Drumline, and a chance to meet players and coaches. The team also unveiled a “Wall of Impact,” featuring photos and stories from each Month of Giving event, and announced that together, they’d impacted over 25,000 Cleveland residents. “This month isn’t just about the Browns—it’s about the entire Cleveland community coming together to support one another,” said Browns team president Paul DePodesta. “Every player, every staff member, every fan who participated has helped make a difference, and that’s something we can all be proud of.” The Cleveland Browns’ Month of Giving may have ended, but the team’s community efforts will continue year-round, with ongoing partnerships with local organizations. Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns because this closing celebration was a testament to the power of collaboration—proving that when a team and its fans work together, they can create positive, lasting change for the city they love.

Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns is more than just a seasonal campaign; it’s a promise—a promise that the team will stand with Cleveland through every challenge, celebrating its triumphs and supporting its needs. From feeding families to building homes, from empowering kids to honoring veterans, the Month of Giving shows that football is about more than wins and losses—it’s about using the sport’s platform to lift up others. For the Browns, this work is part of their identity: they’re not just a team that plays in Cleveland—they’re a team that lives in Cleveland, cares about Cleveland, and works to make Cleveland a better place. Month of Giving Kicks Off Community Efforts by the Cleveland Browns because it’s a reminder that the greatest legacy a sports organization can leave isn’t a trophy case—it’s a community that’s stronger, more connected, and more hopeful because of their presence. And for Cleveland, that’s the greatest win of all.