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CLEVELAND OWNER AL LERNER MAKES FIRST GRANT TO NYPD & FDNY

 FAMILIES SUPPORTED BY BROWNS’ HERO FUND

 

February 28 – At the NFL office in New York City today, Cleveland Browns Owner and Chairman Al Lerner met with and presented the first of yearly contributions to the families of New York City police officer Moira Smith and New York City firefighter Brian G. McAleese, who were killed September 11 while serving their city at the World Trade Center.

Through the Cleveland Browns Hero Fund, the team has adopted the families of these two fallen heroes and will support the Smith family – husband James and two-year-old daughter Patricia – and the McAleese family – wife Dawn, daughter Brianne (five years old) and sons Jack (four), Liam (two) and Aidan (seven months) – until the children’s 18th birthdays.

“We are in this together,” Lerner said to the families today.  “You are not suffering your loss alone.  There are people who care about your loss.  We can’t take back your tragedy.  We can show you that we are together as a country.  I’m pleased to be able to help.  We have become a bigger, more extended family.”

Lerner, a Brooklyn, New York-native who graduated from Brooklyn Tech High School and Columbia College and met and married wife Norma in New York, made the team’s first contribution to the families today. The Browns will grant $40,000 per year to the Smith family annually until Patricia reaches the age of 18, and $60,000 annually to the McAleese family until the youngest child reaches age 18. 

“I appreciate what you have done for our family,” said Dawn McAleese.

Said James Smith:  “I look forward to spending time with the Browns family. Thank you for everything.”

The Browns will have year-round contact with the families.  Each will visit the Browns for a weekend in Cleveland during the NFL season and will also accompany the team on a road trip.  In addition, the Browns’ team and staff will come to New York during the holiday season for visits with the families.  When the children have reached an appropriate age, they will also be offered an opportunity to work as summer interns with the team.

“New York is a special place to Al and Norma Lerner,” said Browns President Carmen Policy.  “Even though they are now proud citizens of Cleveland, they wanted to do something special.  The Cleveland Browns wanted to do something that said that we wanted to build relationships.  We at the Browns are the Smith’s and McAleese’s new extended family.  We hope to provide help by way of love and interaction.”

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue joined the Browns in meeting the families today. “What the Cleveland Browns are doing here today is a solid statement that we need to stay together permanently,” said Tagliabue.

The program is funded by contributions from the players, coaches, executives and staff of the Cleveland Browns and is matched by Lerner.