TJ Ward’s Perfect Off Field Performance

More often than not, mainstream media swarms us with negative news, with misconduct of athletes, movie stars, and the like.  If not criticizing one player’s performance on the field, then they are bombarding us with off the field issues.  If we’re lucky, once a week, we get an in depth report on something worth reporting, of an action, event, or act of kindness that makes us smile, that moves us, that instantly makes us a fan.  We need more news and reports of what players, coaches, and executives do on a daily basis, that’s the news we should want to hear.

In addition to what TJ Ward does as a safety for the Cleveland Browns during the season, he definitely has game off the field too.  The TJ Ward Foundation, in conjunction with Strikes For Kids bowled a PERFECT GAME in the community, before ever picking up a ball. On field TJ has battled back from a pulled hamstring and has been practicing at full speed and expected to start in this weekend’s match-up against the Indianapolis Colts.

Pro Player Insiders had VIP access to  TJ at his Charity Bowling Tournament in Parma Heights at Yorktown Lanes and the 16 Cleveland Browns players who came out to support him in raising money for the community.  Here’s some of our conversation with TJ Ward, Browns’ WR Greg Little, CB Joe Haden, Rookie CB Leon McFadden, and CEO of Strikes for Kids Joe Allen.

PPI:  TJ tell us a little bit about your foundation.

TJ:  It’s called the TJ Ward Foundation, It’s mainly for underprivileged youth, but,  sometimes get involved with other organizations like The National Kidney Foundation and Strikes For Kids.  Just put on events like this for kids, where we can interact with fans, and my sponsors, and bring my teammates out, you know get away from camp for a little bit, and just have a good time out here.

PPI:  How important is it having your teammates here supporting you in this cause?

TJ:  It’s very important!  It’s one aspect of team bonding and activities that will help us get closer on and off the field.  But it’s definitely important to me and I really appreciate them coming out and I really appreciate everyone that donated and came out and sponsored this great event tonight.

There were numerous raffles sold to raise money, in which winning tickets received various goods from area merchants, t-shirts, Cleveland Browns duffle bags, which included mini footballs autographed by TJ and other Brown players, mouse pads, and Browns folders.  There was also a silent auction bidding on autographed 8×10’s, autographed jerseys, round trip airfare for 2 to anywhere in the U.S., Cleveland Browns helmet autographed by the entire team, all to help raise money for the community services that TJ’s Foundation contributes to.

Joe Allen – CEO Strikes For Kids

PPI: Joe, you brought this event to Cleveland, and worked in conjunction with Browns safety TJ Ward, tell us a little bit about what you do, and how TJ’s helped you with that.

Joe:  Strikes For Kids, we’re a non-profit organization that partners professional athletes around the country.  We just got together with TJ on this great idea about putting together a successful bowling tournament in the Cleveland community.  He was all on board, and just so helpful with everything, and we just got it going.

PPI:  You mentioned that TJ is one of the best players that you’ve met as far as giving back in how much he gives back, both of his time and resources.  Talk a little bit about that.

Joe:  TJ, he’s a Bay area (San Francisco Bay) guy, I mean, he’s never forgot where he’s came from.  Any time, any opportunity he has to give back in the community to help out with kids, he’s all for it.  He donates his time, and just really looking to make an impact.  To teach kids, that maybe he didn’t have the opportunity, that mentor, maybe that guy that is that professional athlete growing up, so him being able to help all those kids, is something that’s very important to him now!

PPI:  Exactly what does Strikes For Kids do in the community?

Joe:  We coordinate charity bowling, charity golf tournaments; we actually raise money for local youth organizations that are underprivileged children, so, Boys and Girls Clubs, Make A Wish, National Kidney Foundation, anything to do with any kind of cancer…. Just any way we can give back in the community; food banks, we just make sure that we give back entirely.

PPI:  It looked like TJ had good support from his teammates here tonight, about how many players were here to support TJ?

Joe:  TJ had about 16 teammates that came out to bowl and really donated a lot to the raffle and to the silent auction, were really supportive of everything.

PPI:  It’s nice to be out at this event, see something wonderful going on in this community, the work that Strikes For Kids does.  Where is your next event?

Joe:  Sept 29^th we’ll be in San Francisco working with Joe Staley from the 49ers, that’s  gonna be another big time event, we’re gonna have a good time out there!

We also caught up with several of the Cleveland Browns and asked them their thoughts on supporting TJ’s Foundation this evening.

WR Greg Little

PPI:  What does it mean to you to come out and support TJ at this event here tonight?

Greg:  It’s just really good to always support a teammate, especially when it’s for charity, especially when it’s for kids also.  It’s really a remarkable event, and especially when you’re good at bowling it helps!

PPI:  We got a picture of your 199, is that your high score for the night?

Greg:  Yeah, that’s my high for tonight.  I’m on schedule to bowl about a 268 right now.

PPI:  Do you have any bets with your teammates?

Greg:   Yeah, we usually do a bet, just a frame by frame, and right now I’m down about $40.

Rookie CB Leon McFadden

PPI:  You come out here to help a teammate, TJ Ward, do something for his community, his Foundation.  What does that mean to you to help support a player to do that?

Leon:  It means a lot to me, you know growing up, the kids that weren’t as privileged or as honored to have the things that I had, or the health issues that I didn’t have to encounter, I always felt like if I was in the position to give back or do anything to help those kids, I would want to do that!  So I’m really excited for TJ being able to do this, and taking this step and giving back to the community.

PPI:  Your teammates seem to be having a good time…. How are you holding up on the score here tonight?

Leon:  The first game went really well, I bowled a 202.  I think the closest person to me in my lane was like a 160.  I felt pretty good about that.  But this round, wasn’t looking to good….ended up bowling like a 162 and the guy ended up beating me with like a 196.

CB Joe Haden

PPI:  What makes you want to help a fellow teammate TJ Ward and come out here tonight and support him for his Foundation?

Joe:  TJ, besides being my teammate, he’s one of my good friends.  Any time someone’s doing something positive in the community, especially one of my boys, I definitely come out and support!

PPI:  How’s the comradery been out here tonight.  Even though you’re not on the football field, it looks like there’s a little friendly competition going on the lanes here tonight!

Joe:  You know it’s in everybody’s nature that’s an athlete, you want to compete no matter what you’re doing, whether it be football, basketball, ping pong, video games.  Just the competitive nature, you just always want to win.

All those that came out and supported TJ’s Foundation and Strike For Kids were indeed winners. Not only did they get to interact and rub shoulders with Cleveland Browns players, but they got to witness first hand their competitive nature, regardless of the sport.  The entire evening, as fans supported TJ’s charity event, the players granted autographs to all that asked.

While the raffle drawing took place, TJ set up at a table and signed autographs for everyone in attendance free of charge.  It was a PERFECT night for TJ, no matter how you look at the score!

If you ever get the chance to see TJ or support one of his charity events in the future, take the time out and congratulate him, not for a big hit, an interception, or a Browns win, but, rather, for being someone who cares, who gives back to his community, for being PERFECT off the field!

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