The James Caldwell High School Girls Volleyball Team honored Mr. Brown and his family during their game on October 6, 2021. The team sold t-shirts all throughout the days leading up the game in order to raise money for Mr. Brown and his family. Mr. Brown’s daughter plays for the Colonia team and she will be playing in the game against Caldwell. This event is allowing Mr. Brown’s legacy to live on throughout the towns of Caldwell and West Caldwell. The Girls Volleyball team ordered 500 t-shirts to sell to faculty and students of JCHS and also GCMS. Members of the town of Caldwell have continued to mourn the death of Mr. Brown and he has been greatly missed. Everyone is joyous that there is another way to celebrate and remember the amazing life he had lived.
The Volleyball Team had a tough season being that they are in the American division (highest division). They have suffered a great amount of wins and losses and some devastating games that have almost killed the morale of the team but, the team was very excited about the chance to play for a cause and make a difference as Mr. Brown would say. A lot of coaches of various sports all throughout high school made this game a required part of practice and getting everyone to watch the match and be a part of a cause for the greater good. The entire student body was supportive of this activity, and as soon as people heard that the shirts being sold are for Jim Brown, wallets were immediately taken out. People wanted to participate in helping the family. Even if it was only a sale of 12 dollars, it still went a long way.
The Girls Volleyball Team was absolutely thrilled to see the sales, as we filled up multiple yellow envelopes overflowing with cash. This had everyone excited, knowing that all the money went directly to the Brown family. Not only is the fundraising exciting to people, the team was enlivened that they got the opportunity to represent the remembrance of Jim Brown. The team worked hard to get ready for this event, as many spectators who came to watch represented the fundraiser with the t-shirts and showed their support. It was an amazing scene. After the game, in preparation for the JV game following the varsity, all of the varsity players of Colonia and Caldwell put on their shirts and cheered on the JV team.
After the game, I talked with Head Coach, Rachel Kelly and asked her a few questions about the set up of the game. “How was the game set up in order to focus on Mr.Brown’s family?”
She explained, “We wanted Mr. Brown’s family to come, even though they were reluctant to get all of the attention. We set up by selling t-shirts to faculty and students who came to watch the game. Also, we did so by having a great friendly and supportive match to honor his legacy.”
“Have you been in contact with Mr. Brown’s daughter about her comfort in doing an event like this?”
She stated, “Yes, we spoke to her and she approved of the t-shirts being worn by the spectators and their family even went on to buy several t -shirts as keepsakes.”
Coach Kelly put all of her efforts into discussing and making sure all parties were comfortable with the action taken. To conclude, this was an amazing tribute to Mr. Brown especially his love for Caldwell sports and of course his daughter.
