Furrey hosts Celebrity Bowling Party

10.27.2009

PARMA---A son, a moon and the stars came out Monday night in support of the third Mike Furrey Foundation Celebrity Halloween Bowling Party at Freeway Lanes in Parma.

Everyone from Joshua Cribbs and Hank Poteat, who brought their sons to the event, and defensive back Gerard Lawson, who dressed up as Jackie Moon from the movie Semi Pro, came to help raise money for The Mike Furrey Foundation and the Cleveland Foodbank.

"It's successful," said Furrey. "We've got over 300 people here. A lot of the guys have shown up and contributed their time to something like this. We're going to be able to raise money for the Cleveland Foodbank, the Children's Hunger Alliance, Cleveland Clinic. It's been pretty neat.

"My wife (Koren) and I, we just feel blessed," he added. "What we want to be able to do is just give back, give back to kids, give back to people that need that extra little boost. We're blessed and we're trying to run with it."

Other Browns players to participate in the event included quarterbacks Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Brett Ratliff, offensive linemen Hank Fraley, Floyd Womack and John St. Clair, wide receivers Ray Ventrone, Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie and Chansi Stuckey and tight end Michael Gaines.

The defensive side of the ball was well represented too, as linebacker Blake Costanzo, defensive lineman Corey Williams and defensive backs Coye Francies, Mike Adams and Nick Sorensen stopped in to lend their support.

Assistant strength and conditioning coach Rick Lyle, practice squad linebacker Marcus Benard and former Browns linebacker/defensive end John Thierry also took part in the festivities.

"To have their support, support your cause and support what you do means a lot," said Furrey.

In addition to silent auction items, including autographed cleats from Joe Thomas and Cribbs, signed jerseys from Furrey and Eric Barton and a pool table donated by Litehouse Pools and Spas, groups could show their support by sponsoring lanes.

The Akron Browns Backers sponsored 2 lanes for the event.

"I met Mike a couple weeks ago and we had him down at a meeting last week in Akron and he told me about the event," said Akron Browns Backers President Jim Iona. "He is such a sincere, speak-from-the-heart type guy, I'm happy to come up and support his event. We brought up 24 people, so we're just real excited to be here. It's a great cause."

The Cleveland Foodbank works to alleviate hunger by providing food and support to community organizations that feed the hungry. The Mike Furrey Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) charity organization which helps address the societal issues of Hunger, Housing, Healing and Hope. The Mike Furrey Foundation advocates for the basic needs of all people/children to be met.