PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio — There was just one Browns game left in the season and one fan used it to make a difference in Northeast Ohio.
Jason Behnke got the idea to hold a fundraiser before one of the Browns’ games from his fantasy football league friends.
That idea became a reality on Sunday as Behnke held a food drive at a watch party for the Browns-Bengals game.
The fundraiser was held at Rookies Sports Bar and Grill in Parma Heights.
Behnke was outside of the bar at 9 a.m., ready to collect non-perishable food that was then donated to the Akron Food Bank.
Tickets to the watch party event cost $20 and included unlimited draft beer, wine, well mixed drinks and food. The food included wings, pizza, rigatoni with meatballs and salad. A portion of the ticket profits was also donated to the Akron Food Bank.
The watch party ran from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Rookies Sports Bar and Grill is located at 6913 W 130th St. in Parma Heights.
Behnke said he was excited to be able to help the community while organizing the fundraiser around his favorite team and can’t believe how it all began with fantasy football.
“To think—this all started because I started a fantasy football league with random people on Twitter,” Behnke said.
With all of the donations Behnke's food drive received, he said 1,390 meals will be provided to families in need.
