Annual charity Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl moves to Hinckley
by Erica Peterson
Mike Meadows knows that Hinckley will forever be known for buzzards, but he hopes it might soon be known for another bird, too.
“Could the turkey be as big as the buzzard in Hinckley? I don’t think so,” he said. “But maybe No. 2.”
Meadows, who moved his family and business to Hinckley a year ago, is also moving his annual Meadows Turkey Bowl to town. The event grew from a backyard football game with friends on Thanksgiving 30 years ago to a charity game that has raised over $1.5 million for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
This year’s Turkey Bowl is scheduled to take place behind 1st Day School Supplies, 2659 Center Rd. The pregame starts at 7:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, and kickoff is at 8 a.m. The Highland Marching Band will play at the game.
Meadows said when his family made a commitment to Hinckley, they wanted it to include the Turkey Bowl. He and his wife, Connie, moved to town last August. They have three boys: Pete, who recently moved to Hinckley; Matt, who lives in Medina; and Michael, who is planning to move to town.
They are all involved with his business, 1st Day School Supplies, which moved to Center Road in Hinckley in October 2018. Meadows said the family decided to go “all in on Hinckley.”
“What we liked about Hinckley was not only was it close to our home, we loved the sense of community that Hinckley represents,” he said.
Thanks to the help of Jim Frizell and his Burkey Excavating of Smithville, which donated an estimated $30,000 worth of work, a rocky, uneven, overgrown field behind a warehouse at 1st Day School Supplies has been transformed into the new home of the Turkey Bowl.
Origins of Turkey Bowl
The Turkey Bowl started one Thanksgiving when Meadows lived in Medina, and he, his brother Bill, and a few other friends and relatives decided to toss a football around the backyard while waiting to eat their Thanksgiving meal.
One friend was wearing a sweatband around his wrist and gave it to Meadows’ nephew, saying he won it for being the MVP of the game.
“With that flick of the wrist, he started a tradition. He said, ‘Bring it to the next Turkey Bowl’,” Meadows said.
His nephew did, and a few more people showed up the next year. And the year after that, and the year after that.
“I’d open up the garage door and I’d see these Turkey Bowlers had just come to my house. I didn’t have an announcement, I didn’t say anything; they just showed up!” Meadows laughed.
As the game got bigger and they added awards and a trophy, and “phenomenal breakfasts” cooked by Connie that continue today, people offered to pay Meadows to help cover the cost.
“I said, ‘I don’t want to take any money; give it to charity.’ And the light bulb went off,” he said.
About 15 years ago, the players decided to make the Turkey Bowl a two-day event and meet the night before to pick teams and raise money for charity through drafting players.
“That first year, we raised $800,” Meadows said.
Last year, the Turkey Bowl raised $318,000. All of the proceeds go to St. Vincent.
“Everything goes to the charity,” Meadows said. “Not one penny goes to cover the event. We’re really proud of that.”
Fighting cancer
As the event grew, it evolved. The Turkey Bowl began directing some of its donations through St. Vincent de Paul to specific families. Players share stories of those in need with Meadows. St. Vincent de Paul vets the information and then directs a portion of that year’s Turkey Bowl proceeds to them.
About five years ago, the event’s focus turned to helping those with cancer, Meadows said.
“At least 30 percent of the money that’s going to help the needy is going to help the needy battling cancer,” he said. “If you’re in need, and you have cancer, that’s a level of need that’s indescribable and unmatched.”
This year, the Turkey Bowl is is dedicated to 3-year-old Penny Mallery, granddaughter of Revere School Resource Officer Scott Dressler. In May, Penny was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a relatively rare cancer of the adrenal glands. Since then, she has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and is scheduled to have surgery to remove the tumor.
Meadows considers all the families he’s met and has been able to help through the football game as blessings.
“The good Lord has blessed us,” he said. “We’ve never sought anything. It’s just come to us. This is His Turkey Bowl, not the Meadows’ Turkey Bowl.”
To donate to the Turkey Bowl, or for more information, visit meadowsturkeybowl.com.
Featured image photo caption: The annual Meadows Turkey Bowl will take place in Hinckley this year. The Thanksgiving morning football game has raised more than $1.5 million for the St. Vincent de Paul Society over the years. Photo courtesy of Meadows Turkey Bowl