Cleveland Browns Lineman Joe Thomas Donates to Turf

Former Brookfield Central football far Joe Thomas — now a lineman for the Cleveland Browns — is kicking off a renewed fundraising effort to pay off the debt for Central's artificial turf.

Thomas donated $5,000, which the NFL matched through its NFL Player Matching Grant Program, shaving $10,000 off the $139,400 turf debt.

Representatives from BC(2) delivered the checks to the Elmbrook School Board at its meeting Tuesday night. Presenting were parents Karen Reichert and Bill Gromachi, Brookfield Central Athletics and Activities Director Todd Sobrilsky and Central alum Steve Johnson, who played football with Thomas at Brookfield Central and at the University of Wisconsin.

Elmbrook and BC(2) partnered on the turf project, but payment of the private group's share has not been repaid as originally scheduled. Sobrilsky recently presented a renewed, multi-year fund-raising plan to the School Board's Finance and Operations Committee that includes the Thomas and NFL donations, as well as others planned.

BC(2) is turning the fund-raising over to the Brookfield Central Booster Club and Sobrilsky to lead.

Board members Meg Wartman, Tom Gehl and Glen Allgaier thanked the group for their past work and Sobrilsky for agreeing to spearhead future efforts.

Sobrilsky said, "Our hope is to get that debt paid off sooner," allowing boosters to focus on additional needed athletic improvements.