By Ron Calhoun
Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Deshawn Watson was at the Fatima Family Center passing out encouragement and ice cream for students and seniors. With the Browns’ training camp coming up soon, Watson took out time to meet and greet the residents of Hough. A humble and courteous man, Watson took the time to say a word of encouragement to each person attending, making them feel special.
A staple of the Hough community, Fatima Family Center, located at 6600 Lexington Ave., offers programs and services for all ages and all members of the community. Originally established in 1973 as a pastoral counseling and outreach ministry of Our Lady of Fatima parish, Fatima Family Center prominently anchors the Hough community with a 26,000-square-foot facility developed by Catholic Charities, dedicated in 2000.
In 2002, Fatima Family Center was recognized by the Annie E. Casey Foundation as one of the top five family centers in the United States. Fatima provides cultural, leadership, and development activities as well as homework assistance, summer camp, field trips, and recreational programs for children and teens.
Current programs include:
- After School Program
- Embracing the Arts
- Fatima Kids Club
- Fatima Summer Camp
- Teen Leadership
Adult services include parenting classes, health screenings, and food pantry distributions, as well as access to a weight room, computer lab, and computer classes. Older adults can benefit from socialization activities designed specifically for them.
Additional programs include:
- Embracing the Arts
- Fatima Boutique
- Silver Threads Senior Program
Thank you Deshawn for coming down the way!