Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas and USA Football will donate $3,000 in equipment grants to two Northeast Ohio football programs. The Akron Parent Pee Wee Football Association and Cleveland John Marshall High School will each receive $1,500 grants.
Thomas was named to USA Football’s 2011 All-Fundamentals Team, which honors 26 NFL players who employ proper technique for younger players to emulate. Each All-Fundamentals Team player is awarded a $1,500 equipment grant from USA Football to donate to the youth or high school program of his choice. Thomas matched the grant with an additional $1,500 donation.
Thomas, a two-time USA Football All-Fundamentals Team selection (2009, 2011), was selected to the team this past year for his pass blocking footwork. The All-Fundamentals Team was assembled by a five-person selection committee consisting of Charles Davis, Herm Edwards, Merril Hoge, Jim Mora and Carl Peterson.
USA Football, the sport’s national governing body in the United States, is the official youth football development partner of the Browns, the NFL and each of the league’s other 31 teams. NFL game footage showing USA Football All-Fundamentals Team players’ techniques is available at www.usafootball.com/all-fundamentals-team.
About USA Football: USA Football, the sport's national governing body in the United States, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners.
The independent non-profit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its players and each of the league’s 32 teams. Indianapolis-based USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and provides $1 million annually in equipment grants and subsidizes youth league volunteer background checks. Endowed by the NFL and NFL Players Association in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.
