COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Many Ohioans hear the name Maurice Clarett and may think about a dynamic football season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, while others may think of his downfall and seven and a half year prison sentence.
Either way, Clarett is an example of redemption and resilience. He recently received a $1.5 million grant from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners that will help make a lasting impact in Columbus.
Maurice has dedicated his life to community service after surviving his own battles with substance abuse and mental health issues. In 2016, he founded The Red Zone, an agency serving behavioral and mental health as well as offering addiction services in his hometown of Youngstown. He has since expanded his services into Columbus and other areas throughout Ohio.
Last week, Clarett received over a million dollars in funding to aid in completing renovations to an old hotel property on the North side of Columbus. The space will provide temporary housing and services to senior citizens and pregnant women facing homelessness.
Maurice is also renovating another building on the north side that will serve as a child wellness campus as part of his Champion’s Bridge initiative. The building is a former Super 8 motel located at 1078 East Dublin Granville Road and will offer temporary housing and therapy for youth dealing with complex behavioral and emotional needs.
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The Champion’s Bridge program was previously awarded $4.4 million in state funding to complete the child wellness campus. The Franklin County BOC voted June 30 to approve a memorandum of understanding with Champion’s Bridge.