Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius and Cincinnati St. Xavier will be squaring off this weekend in one of the most highly-anticipated high school football games in the country. But the two teams from opposite corners of the state will be joining together for a greater cause.
St. Ignatius, an all-boys Catholic school on Cleveland’s near Westside, recently began a spirited campaign to prevent youth violence. The philanthropic efforts have been spearheaded by players and coaches of the school’s nationally-ranked football team. The Wildcats, who have won a state-record ten Division I state titles, are taking advantage of their notoriety to extend their reach.
This Saturday, before the Wildcats and Bombers kick off, the schools will honor youths and families affected by violence with a presentation and moment of silence during pre-game.
St. Ignatius and St. Xavier, both Jesuit schools, each share the motto “Men for Others” with community service as a requisite for graduation at both institutions. With philanthropy and service at the forefront, the campaign against youth violence was quickly embraced by St. Ignatius football players when the idea was introduced by assistant football coach Tyrone White.
Posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago at 1:57 pm. Add a comment
Some St. Ignatius High School football players have decided that recent news headlines call for them to do more than tutor or feed the homeless to fulfill their school’s service requirement.
They’re launching a county-wide movement against youth violence, and began Friday by visiting with Justin Winemiller, who was beaten viciously Sept. 5 on his way home from the St. Rocco’s Festival on the near West Side.
A half dozen members of the Cleveland school’s undefeated football team met Winemiller and his mother at the Cleveland Police Department 2nd District headquarters, where they also got a chance to say thanks to the officer who stopped the beating.
Winemiller, who is recovering from a broken jaw, received an armful of gifts from the student-athletes, including a St. Ignatius T-shirt, an envelope of collected cash and an invitation to be guest of honor at their next home game, Oct. 17, against Detroit’s Inkster High.
The teens, led by assistant football coach Tyrone White, said their game will begin with a moment of silence, so attendees can reflect on recent incidents of youth violence and consider what they can do to stop it. They intend to ask local high schools to institute a moment of silence at sporting events for the rest of the year.
Posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago at 3:29 pm. 1 comment