HINCKLEY, Ohio – If Mike Meadows’ annual charity pickup football game on Thanksgiving morning didn’t hit its fundraising goal, well, no one would have thought less of the effort.
It’s been a tough 2020: Meadows’ son, Pete, was diagnosed with, and had surgery for, brain cancer at the beginning of the year. Coronavirus and all its accompanying restrictions and concerns took hold. Charities everywhere were hurting.
But in the end, on a soggy field in Hinckley on Thursday morning, they did it again.
More than 40 players sloshed through the Meadows Turkey Bowl and shattered their fundraising total, bringing in $416,000 in the 31st annual game. That takes the cumulative donation amount to $2,671,800 for St. Vincent de Paul Society. It’s been raising money since 2005 and is the charity’s single biggest fundraiser in Medina County. Money is earmarked to help the needy, especially families battling mounting bills from cancer treatments.
Before the game, Mike Meadows said it wasn’t long ago that he thought if they had hit $200,000 or $250,000 “that would be crazy.” But his usual reserved optimism crept in and he thought maybe they could reach $300,000.
“If we didn’t take that ‘You can’t stop us’ mentality,” he said, “I don’t know if it would have gotten to this.”
Meadows was adamant about pushing on, about being able to help the less fortunate, and about dedicating the game to his son.
“We’re gonna help a lot of families, and it’s really incredible,” he said. “The inspiration was Pete.”
It was Pete who led the opening prayer, one of the game’s many rituals. As players bowed, he spoke a simple but prophetic truth he knows all too well: “We’re grateful for today, because you never know what’s going to happen.”
What happened to Pete was sudden: In January, after a regular workout, he collapsed in his home and went into multiple seizures before doctors discovered a tumor in his brain. He mustered through a long road to get to this week.
As he warmed up Thursday, he said: “When my dad said it was 416, with everything that’s going on with our economy and people losing jobs and coronavirus and the uncertainty, it’s overwhelming to hear that number when there’s charities that can’t do their events and they’re not raising money. We come out, and we beat our number. … Nothing stopped us, because we still had to help those families in need.”
Coronavirus had its effect on this year’s game: There was no enclosed tented area, no band members, no food buffet. But the competition remained – off the field, as players raise money to compete in the pay-to-play game, and on the field, as they slogged through the remnants of Wednesday’s rain.
It was one of the warmest Turkey Bowls in recent memory, with temperatures in the low 50s and a slight mist falling on the fields at Mike Meadows’ company, 1st Day School Supplies in Hinckley. The game has come a long way since Meadows, his brother and two friends tossed around a football on Thanksgiving morning in 1990. Now it’s a labor of love as Meadows, his wife Connie; their three sons and the players work tirelessly procuring donations from individuals and companies.
“It’s a good old-fashioned backyard muddy football game,” Meadows said.
But it was more this year. It was one dedicated to Pete, who wasn’t taking anything for granted.
“This is like my Christmas,” Pete said. “Now we come here and celebrate and play.”
Money raised
The game’s donations have increased every year since it became a fundraiser:
2020: $416,000
2019: $390,000
2018: $318,000
2017: $263,000
2016: $245,000
2015: $230,000
2014: $190,000
2013: $158,000
2012: $126,000
2011: $125,000
2010: $90,000
2009: $70,000
2008: $26,000
2007: $16,000
2006: $8,000
2005: $800
To donate: The Meadows Turkey Bowl begins taking donations on Thanksgiving for the following year’s game. Its website has details on how to donate via paypal or check. Various packages offer deals for donors. So people who give a certain amount can receive dinners, golf and other valued prizes.
Related 2020 Turkey Bowl coverage
Fighting back: Cancer survivor’s inspiring story brings Meadows Turkey Bowl’s mission close to home
Meadows Turkey Bowl ready for 31st annual – and special - Thanksgiving Day football game
ESPN analyst supports Meadows Turkey Bowl in Hinckley; 31st annual game is coming up
Game coverage: Here is our Thanksgiving-Day coverage of the game over the years - stories, photos, videos: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.
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