Throughout the 2025 fall semester, the Browns held events in Northeast Ohio schools such as Gym Class Takeovers and classroom surprises. As the events were wrapping up, the surprises were just starting.
Two students each from Thoreau Park Elementary, Eastern Heights Elementary, Sunview Elementary, Buhrer Dual Language Academy and Brook Park Elementary – the locations of the select Stay in the Game! Attendance Network events – were surprised with tickets to the Browns' Week 16 game against the Bills in partnership with Ticketmaster and the Browns.
"We know how much showing up matters," Managing Director at Ticketmaster Marla Ostroff said. "Being present in school each day lays the foundation for long‑term success, and it's an honor to celebrate these students who have demonstrated what consistent effort can achieve. We're proud to partner with the Cleveland Browns and work with Stay in the Game! to help create unforgettable experiences that recognize their commitment both in and out of the classroom."
Students received Browns gear and were surprised with the tickets by Browns players like WR Cedric Tillman, RB Dylan Sampson, TE Harold Fannin Jr., WR Isaiah Bond, WR Jamari Thrash, LS Rex Sunahara and DT Shelby Harris. Students were chosen as a result of a strong or improved attendance during the 2025 fall semester and showing up ready to learn each day.
Launched in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and Harvard's Proving Ground, the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, now managed by Battelle, works to reduce chronic absenteeism by bringing together experts, partners and communities. The Network partners with 238 districts and impacts more than 611,000 students throughout Ohio.
Students who are not chronically absent from school are 3.9 times more likely to read on grade level by the end of third grade and three times more likely to graduate from high school on time. The Network continues to grow rapidly through its work to improve student attendance and support students across the state of Ohio.
The Network has partnered in 47 new districts and impacted more than 94,565 new students since the 2024-25 school year.
"Strong attendance creates pathways to opportunity," Browns Vice President of Community Impact and Foundation Renee Harvey said. "Through partnerships like Ticketmaster, we're able to recognize and reward students for their commitment while reinforcing the power of showing up every day. By connecting consistent attendance to unforgettable experiences like attending a Browns game in a suite, we aim to motivate students to stay engaged and pursue success both inside and outside the classroom."
The Browns hosted those 10 students and a chaperone for the Week 16 matchup against the Bills at Huntington Bank Field.
Connor B. and Micah P. are third graders at Thoreau Park Elementary and were the first two surprise ticket winners. Following the Browns' second Gym Class Takeover of the semester on Oct. 14, Thoreau Park principal Ted Bickley helped surprise Connor and Micah. Thoreau Park Elementary School and Parma City School District have been a part of Stay in the Game since 2023-24.
Avion J. is a first grader and Carter G. is a second grader at Eastern Heights Elementary. They were called over the school intercom by Thrash to come to the front office, being told they were being recognized for their attendance on Oct. 21 during a Halloween classroom visit. Once they received their Browns gear, Thrash and Harris revealed they were actually being surprised with tickets. Eastern Heights Elementary School and Elyria City School District have been a part of the Network since 2020-21.
Riyon T. and Everett Z. are both second graders at Sunview Elementary. Bond surprised both students in their classrooms on Nov. 18 after the Browns' third Gym Class Takeover. Sunview Elementary School and South-Euclid Lyndhurst City District joined the Network in the 2023-24 school year.
Rylee S. and Heidi H. are in fourth grade at Brook Park Elementary. Sunahara and Tillman surprised the pair after their winter classroom visit to their class on Dec. 16. Brook Park Elementary School and the Berea City School District joined Stay in the Game! in 2023-24.
During the Browns' final Gym Class Takeover of the 2025 fall semester, third graders Inspiration B. and Angie V. received a visit and the ticket surprise from Fannin. Buhrer Dual Language Academy and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District have partnered with the Cleveland Browns Foundation in support of improved attendance since 2015.
"Part of good attendance is making school fun and when you have beautiful experiences like this where you see the kids smiling and laughing and jumping for joy, this is what makes learning amazing," Principal of Buhrer Dual Language Academy Michele Ibarra said on Dec. 9. "What I appreciate the most is that our children and parents work so hard to get their children to school and for them to see that their actions created a positive event and a positive reward is something that we need to celebrate and be joyous about."
