Launched in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and Harvard's Proving Ground, the SITG! Attendance Network, now managed by Battelle, works to reduce chronic absenteeism. SITG! Attendance Network partners with the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati to support attendance efforts throughout the state of Ohio. Together, the three teams partner with 218 schools and impact more than 580,000 students.
However, their efforts to promote improved attendance traveled across the ocean in Week 5. They hosted a "Browns Spirit Day" with a pep rally that featured a "Touchdown Dance" competition, where students stood in front of the assembly and demonstrated their versions of touchdown players by Browns players.
SITG! made a few surprises during the visit, the first to Ruby, who was named the Kickoff Kid for Week 5 against the Vikings. Ruby will retrieve the kicking tee from the field when the Browns play the Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
They also surprised principal Pauline Turner and teacher Kevin Smith each with tickets to the Browns' matchup against the Vikings, and Smith with an invitation to attend practice on Friday. Originally from Findlay, Ohio, Smith has been a Browns fan throughout his life.
"I'm a massive Cleveland Browns fan and it's just the most amazing opportunity for me and for the children and it's been a brilliant," Smith said. "The more you go to school, the more opportunities you have in life and show your commitment. Children make friends at school. They learn some values at school. So, it's a massive deal and we want to do everything we can to try and get the children into school, doing well at school and giving themselves the best life opportunities that they can possibly have."