UWGC, Cleveland Browns Myles Garrett team up for area students

United Way of Greater Cleveland partnered with Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns on August 18 for the second annual Back-to-School event for Cleveland-area students.

The event, which was held at Cleveland Browns Stadium, welcomed students, parents, and guardians from Building Hope in the City for lunch, the opportunity to meet Garrett and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and head home with a backpack filled with school essentials, including folders, pencils, clothing, hygiene products, and snacks.

Setting up the students for success in the new academic year is a key component of the event, according to Kenneth Surratt, United Wayโ€™s Chief Community Investment Officer.

โ€œThereโ€™s no greater investment that we can make in the community than our children … they are the future,โ€ Surratt told wkyc.com. โ€œIf they start off on the right foot academically, thatโ€™s going to lead to better life outcomes, and thatโ€™s what we want for our kids.โ€

Bibb echoed Surrattโ€™s comments and credited Garrettโ€™s involvement for helping make the event a success.

โ€œIt just gives me so much pride as mayor to see Myles Garrett have a huge heart for Cleveland and a huge heart for Clevelandโ€™s kids,โ€ Bibb told News 5 Cleveland. โ€œItโ€™s more than just a backpack filled with school suppliesโ€”it gives them motivation, it gives them hope, and it gives them a broader sense of what their possibilities are as young people in our city. Their smiles just made my whole day.โ€

This is the second year that Garrett and United Way of Greater Cleveland have partnered on the event, and Garrett is hopeful that it will continue to grow in the future.

โ€œWe can keep on growing support by getting more and more communities involved and having the sponsors loving and appreciating this idea,โ€ Garrett told wkyc.com. โ€œWe can continue to help this next generation thrive and do great things and have a better future.โ€

In addition to Garrett; United Way of Greater Cleveland; and Browns Give Back, the teamโ€™s community relations department, the event was supported by:

  • The J.M. Smucker Company
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Layr Official
  • Municipal Apparel
  • Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere
  • Really Amazing Food Truck
  • Gatorade
  • Waiฤkea Hawaiian Volcanic Water
  • Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar of Kent
  • Sarchione Auto Gallery
  • Gentlemenโ€™s Cave Luxury Barber Lounge
  • University Hospitals
  • Procter & Gamble

Thank you to everyone for helping students from Building Hope in the City start the new school year with some resources to set them up for success.

To learn more about the event, please visit:

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