Browns Owner Discusses United Way's Impact

Before Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam pledged to make the home team a winner, he spoke to a Mentor crowd late last week about how United Way impacted his life.

"United Way has always been our No. 1 family cause," Haslam said at United Way of Lake County's annual meeting.

Haslam, his father, wife and brother have all been United Way chairs at some point in their lives. That's why he flew into Greater Cleveland specifically for the meeting at LaMalfa Centre before heading back to his duties as CEO of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Flying J.

Haslam admitted that he didn't know much about what United Way did when Knoxville's business community recruited him as the next local United Way chair nearly 30 years ago. He and his wife, Dee, spent a year or so visiting United Way agencies each week, transforming Haslam from a person who would become chair "because it was the right thing to do" into an avid supporter.

Things began changing when Haslam visited a cerebral palsy center the year before he became chairman. He met a man his age who was so excited to meeting the incoming chairman that he managed to write a welcome message to the Haslam family despite having not being able to move his arms and legs.

"I saw how excited and fired up this guy was, and it had probably taken him most of the morning to do that," Haslam said. "I thought, 'this guy is so excited to this, the least you could do is be excited and fired up to learn more about United Way.' That was kind of the turning point for me."

It propelled him to successful campaigns and the desire to continue giving today.

"United Way helps a lot of people who wouldn't be able to help themselves," Haslam said. "We have an obligation to help those people out.

"I applaud you for not only coming today, but also for giving to and supporting United Way."