CrossCountry Mortgage donates $100,000 to Edison High School in memory of Max Soviak

CLEVELAND – Cleveland-based CrossCountry Mortgage donated $100,000 Saturday to Edison High School in memory of Max Soviak, a 2017 Edison graduate who was killed in the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on August 27.

The gift was announced during an on-field ceremony at Saturday’s Cleveland Browns game against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium.

“We hope today’s ceremony and our donation to Edison High School will call attention to Max and the many other brave young citizens of Northern Ohio who each year join the military to help preserve our freedom and protect the safety of others around the world,” said CrossCountry Mortgage Founder and CEO Ronald Leonhardt Jr. “Max grew up in Ohio, he attended school here and he was a cherished family member, friend, neighbor, teammate and leader. We are proud to celebrate his life and honor the sacrifice he made for all of us.”

“(This) will be a constant reminder of Max and the sacrifice that he made, and it’s going to give an opportunity to share with players what this represents – how important it is that we continue to do things in a way that would make him proud,” said Edison Chargers Coach Jim Hall.

Family and friends have established the Max Soviak Memorial Fund. Contributions can be made at any Civista Bank, or checks, payable to the Max Soviak Memorial Fund, can be mailed to Civista Bank, 24 E. Main St., Berlin Heights, OH 44814.