Impact Youth Cleveland Bearcats; Wellington High School Named 2021 Leo Murphy Memorial Field & Equipment Grant Recipients


CLEVELAND – The Impact Youth Cleveland Bearcats Football & Cheer program and Wellington High School Dukes have been named 2021 recipients of the Leo Murphy Field & Equipment Grant, the Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities (CTCC) announced on March 31.

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. Impact Youth will receive $3,000 while Wellington will receive $2,000 to assist with securing the proper equipment and resources they need to play the game of football safely.

“This year’s grant selection process was one of the toughest decisions to make with so many programs in need,” CTCC President Christina Webb said. “As these two programs look to recover from the COVID pandemic, we hope this grant will bring a bright future and sense of normalcy to both programs, their players and their communities.”

Impact Youth, Inc., is a community-based mentoring service designed to actively engage youth in Greater Cleveland to become involved with programs and civic activities that improve the quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities. Impact Youth provides programs to educate, foster appropriate behaviors and attitudes, and mentor the young men and women of the community.

“We are truly appreciative and incredibly grateful that the Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities chose the Impact Youth Cleveland Bearcats Football & Cheer program for this year’s grant,” Shawn Austin, Sr., Youth Development Director, and Chief Executive Officer, said. “This grant will be a blessing to the student-athletes that participate in our youth football & cheer program.”

Wellington High School, located in Wellington, Ohio, is a member of the Lorain County League and serves youth players in grades 7-12 through four football programs. The Dukes varsity program finished 3-6 in 2020 and are coached by Rob Howells.

“On behalf of the Wellington Dukes football team, I would like to express my gratitude to Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities for supporting schools like ours,” John Bowman, Athletic Director, stated. “The Leo Murphy Field & Equipment Grant will go a long way to making the football experiences better for our students.”

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.