CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland Browns player, Denzel Ward, is giving back to the community where he grew up and is now living his dream.

  • Ward is a graduate of Nordonia High School and was an All-American at OSU
  • He’s helping service workers and small business owners
  • Over 1,000 people have submitted applications for financial assistance since he first launched the campaign in early April

Ward, who is from Northeast Ohio, recently offered to cover the biggest monthly expense for 21 Clevelanders who are out of work due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Through his "Make Them Know Your Name" foundation, the Browns cornerback is targeting service workers and small business owners — paying their mortgage, rent, or other major expense. 

In a news release, Ward said, "I want someone to breathe a little easier, knowing that's taken care of this month."

More than 1,000 people have submitted applications for financial assistance since he launched the campaign during the first week of April.  He wears number "21" for the Browns. 

Ward is a graduate of Nordonia High School and was named an All-American at the Ohio State University before being drafted by the Browns in 2018. He and his foundation team will review the stories that applicants submitted to the MTKYN website.

Ward added, “It’s important to me that people know they’re not alone in this. We’re all in this together. That’s the Ohio way.”