Since 2015, the Arby’s Foundation has supported the Cleveland Browns Foundation’s Get 2 School, Stay in the Game program. While these efforts normally promote innovative strategies to encourage regular attendance for Cleveland Metropolitan School District students, the changing school environment due to the COVID-19 outbreak has shifted the program’s strategy.
With nearly two-thirds of CMSD students without internet connectivity and the governor alluding to a blended learning model of remote and in-person come fall, many students will struggle to access the resources they need to learn. That’s why the Arby’s Foundation and Cleveland Browns Foundation are partnering with a non-profit internet service provider, Digital C. In partnership with local restaurant teams in Cleveland, the Cleveland Browns Foundation will shift $100,000 in funds slated to support the attendance program to providing internet access at home for 520 students.
“We thank Arby’s for this generous gift. The closing of our buildings due to COVID-19 and the rapid switch to remote learning have exposed the digital divide that exists in Cleveland. Up to 40 percent of our families are without reliable, high-speed internet. This helps move us closer to our goal of ensuring access for every student,” said Eric S. Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
The Arby’s Foundation has also committed an additional $11,300 in grant funds to support “Hats off to Our Heroes,” which will provide personal protective equipment for community organizations that are preparing and delivering food to those in need. Following a matching contribution by idegy, the preferred promotional merchandise partner of the Browns, 20,000 facemasks will be issued to a combination of frontline workers operating food drive distributions, educators and students across local school districts.
The Arby’s Foundation helps America’s kids dream big and pursue their dreams with confidence, and focuses its efforts on childhood hunger, youth leadership and career readiness initiatives. In 2019 alone, the Arby’s Foundation raised $8.3 million for youth-related causes and donated 2.9 million meals to kids in need. The Arby’s Foundation is a division of the Inspire Brands Foundation, which is a registered 501(c)(3). To learn more about Inspire and Arby’s impact in 2019, click here.
