Browns GM Andrew Berry came up with the idea, urging employees to take actionGETTY IMAGES
The Browns are "launching a new social justice initiative" called “Be The Solution,” according to Nate Ulrich of the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Browns Exec VP/Football Operations & GM Andrew Berry came up with the idea, which "began with an internal email to Browns employees June 5 urging them to act in the fight against racial and social injustice." It led to team employees "raising $185,522 for 14 different charities as of Monday, so the organization decided to involve fans." Berry pledged to donate $8,460 in honor of George Floyd and other recent victims to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund if "at least 50 employees" did one of the following:
- Spend at least 8 minutes, 46 seconds on an educational or dialogue item provided in the email and submit a written or video reflection about what they learned or will do moving forward.
- Sign up for any social activism initiative.
- Donate to a social activism cause.
Browns Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam are "committed to matching all of the money raised and donating it to organizations chosen by staff members" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/25).
