CLEVELAND -- On Tuesday evening, the Cleveland Browns transformed the City View Club at Cleveland Browns Stadium into a place of holiday celebration and hope as they hosted the 16th annual Deck The House fundraiser to benefit Providence House.
Providence House is a crisis nursery in Cleveland that cares for and protects children, newborn to six years old, who are at risk of abuse and neglect.
Throughout the evening, members of the Browns’ front office and the Browns Women’s Organization visited with guests as they placed bids on silent auction items ranging from a game day experience with tickets and pregame field passes to the January 1st game against the Pittsburgh Steelers to a week at Pinehurst Resort and Golf Club in North Carolina.
“A primary focus of the Cleveland Browns’ community outreach efforts centers on youth and those who are most vulnerable,” said Jenner Tekancic, manager of community outreach for the Browns. “The children at Providence House truly need support and a comforting atmosphere. Through their expertise, Providence House provides invaluable services and we are thankful local children have them to rely on.”
Providence House protects at-risk children by helping meet their physical, emotional, developmental and educational needs and works with families to better the lives of Cleveland area youth. One-hundred percent of the children are at risk for abuse/neglect and 30 percent are homeless, while six percent have been witnesses to domestic violence.
Events like Deck The House help Providence House fulfill its mission.
“This event is our biggest fundraiser of the year. This is our 16th year and it’s our seventh year here at Cleveland Browns Stadium,” said Natalie Leek-Nelson, CEO and president of Providence House. “It’s a really special event, not just for the help that it provides our kids, but we really get to celebrate the fact that we are the Cleveland Browns’ Courage House. This is our 12th year as the Courage House.”
While Deck The House is an important fundraiser, it is just part of the way in which the Browns support Providence House.
“The Browns Women’s Organization helps host different activities and events,” Leek-Nelson said. “They were helping here at this fundraiser and the players have come out just to offer that great support to our kids who don’t have a lot of great male role models in their lives. The Browns have been amazing partners, not just philanthropically, but through their outreach and support in helping us connect to others in the community on behalf of our kids. This is not just a football season engagement. This is a year-long engagement. The Browns are so committed to the kids in this community and Providence House is just one of many, many children’s organizations that they reach out to and they walk their talk in this community.”
As part of the Deck The House event, the Browns presented their 2011 Ed Block Courage Award to linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. Jackson has returned to the field and leads the team with 112 tackles after missing almost two complete seasons due to pectoral tears.
“We were proud and happy when we found out D’Qwell Jackson would be honored as the Cleveland Browns Ed Block Courage Award recipient,” Tekancic said. “It’s an honor that’s voted on by his teammates and his work in the community is outstanding. He’s a genuine person, a great player and we’re excited he was the one who was chosen for this honor.”
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