Issue #264: The $4M Backyard Turkey Bowl
Good morning. It’s Saturday, November 11th.
Today’s Quick Win
Inspiration: $4M Backyard Turkey Bowl
Moment of Fun: Teaching Kids English
Brain Games: More Words
Question: Give Back
“I see guys around me starting to give up. They’re slowing down and just thinking about retirement in 4-5 years. Not me - I’m not done. I want to keep running my business, run with my boys, climb mountains, run marathons.”
The number of participants in Turkey Trots (as of 2018). No doubt this number has gone up. Despite over 50M Americans traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s the biggest race day of the year with 750+ races. You signed up?
This Week
This week we explored how to navigate nutrition around the holidays and new year.
Issue #262 - be aware of your eating habits as the seasons change - we’ve evolved to eat more during the cold months for survival. Also, winter brings a decrease in serotonin, often compensated by increased carb intake. Instead, check out this list of go-to foods in the fall.
Issue #263 - check out our tips to enjoy your Thanksgiving - stay hydrated, enjoy an organic turkey, consider a few healthy sides and go for a post-meal walk. But most of all - enjoy the time with friends and family!
Click HERE to check out previous issues in the Thrive25 archive.
Inspiration
Football is synonymous with Thanksgiving - lots of us get together to throw the pigskin around for a friendly game of touch before carving the turkey.
Well where Max and I grew up (Medina, OH) there’s a game unlike any other…
In its 34th year, the Meadows Turkey Bowl has raised $3.7M for charity ($533K in 2022 alone) and has become more than just a backyard game.
This year 40 players will lace up their cleats. But even before kickoff, hundreds of fans huddled around bonfires - it may be snowing - will hear a national anthem and a local high school band will keep the energy high throughout the game.
The game brings out some real competition to win the trophy - but the founder of the event, Mike Meadows, always talks about “the game within the game” - who can raise the most money.
This wasn’t how it started. Originally, it was just a small group of guys getting together for some football on Thanksgiving. But as it grew, the Meadows family started providing a delicious breakfast and took care of all the costs for the game.
Players asked if they could chip in for the food - Meadows said keep your money. No wait - better yet, give it charity. And so it began.
Today players are required to raise $3,000 to play in the game. But that’s only a portion of the money raised. Meadows has partnered with sponsors that include local restaurants and country clubs to earn free rounds of golf. Even the Cleveland Guardians (yea, I’m still getting used to the new name too) offer tickets and a luxury suite.
It’s gotten so big that Meadows has even rolled the event into his business (he’s President of 1st Day School Supplies and 1st Place Spiritwear) where his team works the phones for more donors.
Historically the money went to St. Vincent de Paul Society to help those in financial need. In 2020, Mike’s son, Pete, was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer - oligodendroglioma.
This year’s dollars go to a fund named after Pete and Anita Meadows’ baby who died last year late in pregnancy and the Grace Foundation in support of cancer research and to help those affected by cancer.
But Mike isn’t someone to just give money and sit back and relax. He’s a guy who hasn’t missed a workout in over 20 years.
So since Pete’s diagnosis - Mike has been working with the University of California-San Francisco (one of the top brain cancer centers in the world) to help fund research specifically for brain cancer. He’s also helping build a connection between UCSF and the Cleveland Clinic to share research and move even faster to find a cure.
That might not come anytime soon, but I get the feeling that Mike will be playing in the game and raising money until it does. He’s 57 and told me that he’s in the absolute best shape of his life.
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holiday - a great workout, deep sense of community with incredible people, and a chance to give back.
Thanks to Mike and so many others who are giving their time and money this holiday season to support the health & longevity of those in need.
If you’re around Cleveland for Turkey Day and want to check out the game - it starts at 8am on Thanksgiving morning.
Whether you’re local or not and want to donate to this cause - here’s the WEBSITE. (It’s even endorsed by Lee Corso)
Or…use this as a template and start your own game. Who knows what might happen in the next 25 or 34 years!!
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
It’s possible to enjoy the holidays and limit your seed oil consumption with a few key tricks - check out this blog post from Zero Acre Farms.
Check out Zero Acre Farms - the all purpose cooking oil that’s better for people, planet, and french fries.
Click HERE to get 15% off your order with code THRIVE25 at Zero Acre Farms. Good for you, good for Earth, good for cooking. #EatBetterFat
Moment of Fun | The Logic of English
After spending hours teaching our kids to read - I couldn’t agree more…
Brain Games | More Words
There is a word in the English language in which the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four signify a great man, and the whole word, a great woman. What’s the word?
Credit: Reader's Digest
**For answer, scroll to the bottom of the post
Weekend Q | Give Back
Our purpose is a combination of our strengths and your passions.
Where can you give back this holiday season in a way that’s connected to your purpose?
Product Recs
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Thanks for another great week!
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** Brain Games Answer **
Heroine
Why Thrive25
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.