Name: Joseph Stanonik
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
How they give back: Let It Ride – Game ready 4 Life, attempts to engage the relationship of poverty on the quality of life experiences and well-being of youth with social economic histories of being at-risk. It is a work-based learning and occupational skills program, designed as an alternative program with social recreational options and fellowship benefiting both individuals and the group as peer support club. Youth are involved in the following occupational areas: outdoor skills such as recreation, park management, conservation, graphic design, video production, theater, music production, and creative business writing. It attempts to bridge the employment gaps between economically-challenged families and their counterparts. Let It Ride involves youth basic skills, enhancement, work readiness skills, occupational skills and other competencies needed to be productive not only as an individual, but within one's family and community.
The program is in association with Cleveland Treatment Center's Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs program. Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs at the Cleveland Treatment Center is a primary prevention and early intervention program. It targets youth ages 12-18 as an early intervention strategy involved with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, violence, trafficking, and those that need minimal intervention. Let It Ride – Game Ready 4 Life serves as a viable rites of passage strategy that engages those enrolled in Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs and other youth that have demonstrated growth and a willingness to work and learn, ages 14-18.
Name: Audra Asplin
Hometown: Muncie, IN
How they give back: Audra has been volunteering each week for the past two years. She chooses to #give10 by assisting the librarian at the local Pleasant View Elementary School. It's been her absolute pleasure to see the kids learn the valuable skill of reading, while also fostering a love for it. Audra has also been a dedicated and recurring volunteer for the Scholastic book fairs in the past. And on top of all the time that she spends to improve literacy in the area, she also donates financially to aid students who normally wouldn't be able to afford them.
Name: Paul Young
Hometown:Marion, OhioHow they give back: In the past 5 years, my hometown, Marion, OH, has been plagued by drugs and violence. Mainly most of it from hard drugs such as heroin. It was my hope that by starting a city wide Cleanup and getting people together, and working together, that it may change the attitude in which my town has. Seeing people come together from different groups, race, sex, religion, etc., helping one another, makes everyone have more hope for our future. We have had many town cleanups that include cleaning schools, churches, parks, and even local Hometown businesses. It is also my hope that in the future that we hope to help have fundraisers benefitting local charity, as well as helping kids with scholarships. * *
Name: Scott Hanna
Hometown: Wooster, OH
How they give back: Scott is an active member in his community who focuses on animal welfare. He has been committed to the cause for quite some time and encourages others to get involved in some way. He is able to give back in multiple ways summing up all that he does simply as 'charity work.' Scott volunteers at the Wayne County Humane Society in Wooster.* *
Name: Nique Fajors
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
How they give back: Nique has just recently taken the pledge to #give10 and help her community. She is vowing to give 10 hours of her time during 2016 to make herself and her community a better place. It's important for her to keep this resolution as a priority as she continues on throughout the calendar year. As her first act of kindness or deed, she is planning to pick up trash in and around the St. Louis are in which she lives. This just goes to show that anyone can do it, helping the community is as easy as beautifying the spaces in which we live, play and grow.
Are you signed up to #give10? Share how you are helping the community and pledge to be part of First and Ten on ClevelandBrowns.com/community. All you have to do is give 10 hours, help your community. We want to hear your stories so follow @BrownsGiveBack on Twitter and Instagram for the latest community updates and be sure to use #give10.
