photo by steed media service

The Braylon Edwards Foundation, founded by Cleveland Browns’ star wide receiver Braylon Edwards, is embarking on an ambitious national philanthropic program the likes of which are rarely seen. Behind publicist Sandra Ware’s efforts, the Edwards Foundation is initiating the Advance 100 Program, which is pledging $1 million for 100 eighth graders in Cleveland to attend college upon graduation from high school.

“We provide programming with partnership with Cuyahoga Community College, and the kids [attend] classes in etiquette [and] self-esteem. They are prepared to take their first college courses as high school freshmen and will earn full college credits by the end of May ... we’re just excited,” she says.

Cleveland is the pilot city for the program whose objective is to eventually take the Advance 100 program nationally. Ware oversees the administration of the program, which requires students to have a 2.5 GPA, accumulate 15 hours of community service every school year, and ensures that students maintain great relationships inside and outside the classroom. The Women Moving Forward Reaching Back annual luncheon also exposes young student recipients of the Advance 100 to see success up close and personal.

“[The luncheon] allowed me to be encouraged [firsthand] by other professional women and to also bring in some of our young ladies to our program to be exposed to doctors [and] attorneys. They’re exposed to different women from different backgrounds and they can say ‘if they can do it, I can do it.’ [It’s] not just say[ing] study hard [and] get good grades, but [we’re] exposing them to women who have done it. They need to see it, they need to be able to touch you. They need to be able to pick up the phone and talk to you,” Ware says. -terry shropshire

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