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HINCKLEY, Ohio – The organizers behind the annual Meadows Turkey Bowl are adding some star power and political clout to get the word out about the pickup football game’s charitable mission. That mission is to raise money to find a cure for brain cancer. The 36th annual Thanksgiving Day game brings a collection of guys from all walks of life and ages to the grounds of Mike Meadows’ 1st Day School Supplies in Hinckley. The two-handed touch (shove?) game is pay-to-play, with each player on four teams ponying up a minimum of $3,000 to compete. This year marks the 21st consecutive year the game has been a fundraiser. Cumulatively it has raised just more than $5 million for charity. Last year alone, the game brought in $650,000. Meadows, his wife Connie and sons Pete, Michael and Matt, along with players and others seek donations from individuals and companies. They also look for any type of national exposure, and this year that came from former NFL coach Jon Gruden making a video to help promote the game. “Our support from Jon Gruden is something we’re super excited about,” Meadows said. “He’s really supporting us. He could have done that (just) for us, but he posted it.” The animated Gruden, who was born in Sandusky and played for the University of Dayton, is shown ripping open a box of Turkey Bowl apparel. In the entertaining video, Gruden brings the same intensity to opening the box as he did to coaching. Gruden is not the first coach-analyst to promote the game. Former coach and longtime College GameDay analyst Lee Corso has lent his support in the past. Also this year, several politicians are backing the game. “We’re trying to deliver our message nationally to our politicians,” said Mike Meadows, who created the game in 1990 with his brother and two pals. Meadows cited support from Sen. Jon Husted and Rep. Max Miller. “The focal point for both of those guys is not politics, but what can we do to advance brain-cancer research especially since funding has been cut,” said Meadows, who added he doesn’t “care what letter” is by their name. The promotions, the fundraising and the slogging through the mud is about raising money for targeted research. Several years ago, the Turkey Bowl struck a partnership with the University of California-San Francisco Brain Tumor Center to funnel money for research programs. Places like the center and the Cleveland Clinic “are especially relying on funds like ours to finance seed research. It’s all drying up,” Meadows said. So Meadows committed to the Turkey Bowl financing four studies at $400,000 annually for four years. And it’s not a free ride. “The way the program works is to advance to the second year they have to show progress,” he said. If only two were to show potential that would have been a success story, Meadows said. But all four studies are showing promise. “The research dollars are working. We took a chance on four high-risk, high-reward studies and after year one, check - mission accomplished. All are advancing. That’s not how it usually works. All four could have failed. There’s a stringent methodology, stage-gate review that they have that makes it go-no go. And all of them got a thumb’s up. “The best and the brightest brain-cancer researchers in the world are really relying on these funds to do some special things.” The cause is personal for the Meadows family. “My life’s mission when I wake up in the morning is to try to find a cure for the type of cancer that Pete is battling.” In early 2020, Pete collapsed at home and was rushed to the hospital. He was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma and underwent surgery. Related: Fighting back: Cancer survivor’s inspiring story brings Meadows Turkey Bowl’s mission close to home This year, Pete said the game feels like a “smaller, close-knit group who really are buying into the cause, playing the game within the game, trying to find a cure for brain cancer. … I think this year is to beat the goal by one dollar. We are a little behind.” The game has always raised more than the prior year. But the next two weeks are critical, Mike and Pete said. “We are definitely off this year. I am not sure what to attribute it to. But we’re going to make a late push,” Mike Meadows said. “As a company, we stop what we do every Friday from 10 to noon and proactively call past donors and encourage them to donate again. We’re shaking the trees.” Many of the Turkey Bowl emails soliciting donations bring home the human side of the game’s mission. Recently, Pete sent one out. While wearing a Turkey Bowl letterman’s jacket, he went shopping with his wife, and a stranger approached. “I opened the freezer door. A man ran up to me, stuffed $100 cash into my pocket, and literally ran away. I ran after him, telling him I can’t accept it. He stopped and said, ‘Please take it, my family member is battling cancer and I always wanted to donate.’ ” The emotional side of giving humanizes what the game means. The fundraising format has always been to donate to St. Vincent de Paul to target the neediest in the area. The game is the biggest annual fundraiser for the charity in Medina County. Cancer brings a medical challenge for those who are diagnosed with it, but also a financial one. Players can earmark dollars they raise for a specific cause. Paul Muklewicz, a football coach at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, recently was diagnosed with stage-4 colon cancer. One of the players, Joel Belding, has dedicated 100 percent of his proceeds going to Coach Muk, as he is known. The game is a spectacle, offering a bit of glory and postgame trophies. Four teams compete in a round-robin tournament kicking off at 8 a.m. in any kind of weather. Bonfires line the sidelines. High school marching band members show up and play under the shadow of giant inflatable turkeys. Meadows and his family spring for food trucks. Miller, the U.S. representative whose 7th District encompasses Medina County, is going to play, Meadows said. Quarterback Connor Cook, who played for Walsh Jesuit and Michigan State before a stint in the NFL, has competed in several Turkey Bowls. Meadows said a couple of guys who played for Ohio University and Bowling Green signed up for this year’s game. “The game is getting younger,” Meadows said, which is a good thing for its future. Last year, Meadows tore his hamstring on his only play and had to have surgery. But he’s back this year. “This is my triumphant return,” he joked. Whether he plays much is a far cry from the game’s mission, something Meadows and his family work tirelessly on throughout the year. “We’re making a global dent on brain-cancer research, which is kind of cool,” he said. More info: Meadows Turkey Bowl The game: The game is at 2659 Center Road, Hinckley. The public is invited. Admission is free. To donate: Go to meadowsturkeybowl.com. Incentive packages include golf outings, steak dinners and sports tickets for various donation amounts. By-the-year donations: Total: $5,002,800 2024: $650,000 2023: $637,000 2022: $533,000 2021: $511,000 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 1990-2004: Not a fundraiser. Game coverage:
