Cleveland - The Cleveland Police Athletic League and Brooklyn City Schools Football Program have been named 2020 recipients of the Leo Murphy Field & Equipment Grant, the Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities announced Thursday.
The Field & Equipment Grant, named after the late longtime Cleveland Browns trainer and Honorary Lifetime Member of CTCC Leo Murphy, is awarded annually to youth football programs in the Greater Cleveland area. Both programs will receive $2,500 to assist with securing the proper equipment and resources they need to play the game of football safely.
“Every year is special for us when we award this grant and we are excited to help two programs reach two different age groups, both with the important mission of providing a safe environment to enjoy the game of football,” CTCC President Christina Webb said. “Due to the societal impact of COVID-19, we hope this grant will help these programs bring some sense of normalcy to their players this fall and for years to come.”
For more than 50 years, the Cleveland Police Athletic League has provided tackle football programs in many Cleveland neighborhoods. The program currently sponsors three different sets of football and cheerleading teams, the Reddogs, Bombers, and Seahawks, reaching over 300 Cleveland youth each year.
“On behalf of the Cleveland Police Athletic League, I would like to thank the Cleveland Touchdown Club for its help, support, and generosity,” Sergeant Bob Kumazec, Executive Director of the Cleveland PAL said. “Every cent of our award will go towards the purchase of replacement safety equipment, such as helmets and shoulder pads, and will be a great asset to help our organization continue our great football tradition.”
Brooklyn City Schools Football Program is a member of the Chagrin Valley Conference (CVC), Metro Division, and serves youth players in grades 7-12 through three football programs. The Hurricanes varsity program will open the 2020 season under first-year head coach – and 1991 BHS graduate – Pat Costanzo.
“The Brooklyn Football Program and Athletic Department would like to thank the Cleveland Touchdown Club for awarding Brooklyn High School this Leo Murphy Field & Equipment Grant,” Costanzo said.” “We would like to also thank our former head coach, Sean Belveal, for applying for this grant on behalf of our football program. This grant will allow us to continue to update our equipment for the upcoming season and help build our football program for the future."
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