Jarvis Landry
WIDE RECEIVER
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Jarvis Landry has continued to support the Browns' mission to give back to Northeast Ohio with a commitment to education and youth football while engaging the community through our signature volunteer movement. This year, he was a co-chair and emcee for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank's (Browns First and Ten Community Partner) largest fundraiser, Taste of the Browns. With the help of his favorite items auction package donation, Jarvis helped raise more than $350,000, enough for more than 1.4 million meals for local individuals and families in need. During this year's Pro Bowl weekend, Jarvis paid a special visit with the Youngstown, Ohio Jr. Browns flag teams that qualified for the NFL Flag Championships in Orlando, FL. He also helped present $25,000 worth of new helmets to deserving local high school football teams. In addition, he broke ground on the sixth synthetic turf field donated by the Browns at Lorain High School. Jarvis recently visited Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeastern Ohio, the site of Haslam Field, the ninth synthetic field donated by the Browns since 2016 as a part of the Haslams' commitment to education and youth football. Boys Hope Girls Hope provides children from under-resourced communities with long-term support and partnership focused on preparing each scholar for post-secondary and career success. He wanted to celebrate Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars and surprise them with gifts for their school year. "It's very important because it's a platform I feel that guys like me have the opportunity to be out here and help these kids any way that I can," Jarvis said.
Since joining the Browns in 2018, Jarvis has been committed to using his platform to help those in need both in Cleveland and his hometown in Louisiana. In particular, he has joined the fight against Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a cause very personal to Landry. A young woman he knew in high school, had the disease and lost her battle in 2015, after a double-lung transplant, at age 24. He promised her he would continue the fight against CF and raise awareness of the disease. To demonstrate his commitment, Jarvis wears customized cleats supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a part of the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative. He also spearheaded an event in Miami in 2018 (Jarvis Jam) that grossed over $100,000 to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "I feel like these are much-needed steps, much-needed events and things like this to raise awareness, and I know for me personally, to be able to have the platform that I have and be able to use that to reach more people, make more people aware is more of the reason I'm here," Jarvis said. Jarvis also hosts the Jarvis Landry Sports Challenge event, that raises funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Local students ages 8-14 represented organizations that sponsored their participation, (at no cost to the children), to compete in a series of sports challenges. Though the spirit of competition was high, Jarvis made visits to each participant, ensuring they had plenty of fun. Each year he also hosts the Annual Jarvis Landry Giveback Event at his alma mater, Lutcher High School in Lutcher, LA. Nearly 150 youth are invited for a fun-filled day of football, private workout sessions, inspiration and mentorship. Each student receives new school supplies for the upcoming school year. In addition, Jarvis awards a $5,000 scholarship to a graduating senior.
Jarvis' genuine desire to use his platform to serve others has truly made a lasting impact in the Cleveland community. "For me, I personally believe that's what God put me here to do, be an influence, be an inspiration to other people and help." Jarvis is especially admired for his genuine interactions and relationships with special guests who are going through difficult times. He has hosted children battling life-threatening illnesses along with their families for facility tours, practices and games. He heard about a young boy, Fletcher, who has been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. He stepped up and made sure Fletcher had a Browns experience that he would never forget. Fletcher and his family were invited out to the Browns Training Facility, where Jarvis greeted them at the front doors. He took them on an exclusive facility tour where he introduced Fletcher to his teammates and coaches. Even after the special visit, Jarvis continues his support of Fletcher by staying in touch with his family and proudly wearing his "Fletcher Strong" wristband. Jarvis continues to serve as an impactful leader to his teammates, and a difference-maker in the Cleveland community. The Cleveland Browns are proud to name Jarvis Landry their 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
