Valley Forge and Ohio Elite Athletics Named 2019 Leo Murphy Memorial Field & Equipment Grant Recipients

Valley Forge High School and Ohio Elite Athletics have been named 2019 recipients of the Leo Murphy Field & Equipment Grant, the Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities (CTCC) announced on March 21.

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.

“This year was one of the more competitive years for awarding grants with many youth football programs doing great work and in need of support,” CTCC President Christina Webb said. “We are excited to help Valley Forge and Ohio Elite Athletics continue to grow this great game in a safe manner.”

Valley Forge High School, located in Parma Heights, Ohio, will use the grant to purchase new equipment and recondition current helmets to help the program keep up with the influx of players from 8^th through 12^th grades. The Patriots went 6-5 in 2018, appearing in first round of the Division II playoffs first time in 16 years and the second time in school history.

“We are honored that our program was selected as a recipient for this grant. It will have a positive impact on every player currently in our program, as well as the future,” Valley Forge head coach Marcello DeAngelis said. “Kids going out there every day and trying to be a part of something bigger than themselves is a real accomplishment in the times we live in, they deserve a lot of credit. Being able to use this money to help our student athletes accomplish their goals is a huge blessing.”

Ohio Elite Athletics was founded by Coach Omar Williams with the goal of helping Cleveland youth build character, self-esteem, problem solving skills, and teamwork skills. Competing in its first season this year, the program will use the grant to ensure players have safe equipment and field equipment. In addition to supporting a youth football program, Ohio Elite Athletics offers AAU/USATF Track and Field. Future plans are to expand to wrestling, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball.

“We are so thankful for CTCC for awarding us this grant. As a new program, we want to make this a huge success for the student athletes in our community,” Coach Omar Williams, founder and coordinator of Ohio Elite Athletics, said. “The Seminole football program is going to be so much bigger than putting a helmet on and playing this great game. Our program is about family, relationships, academic success, leadership, and restoring pride in the community in which we serve.”

The CTCC Leo Murphy Memorial Field & Equipment Grant eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) non-profit youth organizations and local schools in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Lake and Geauga counties. Grant funds are designated to make improvements to equipment and/or facilities, and to help improve the safety and overall quality of those programs.