Latest / We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits / 354. The Power of Team + Rabid Fans: Meet Good Game Foundation - Adam DeVon Miller

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354. The Power of Team + Rabid Fans: Meet Good Game Foundation - Adam DeVon Miller · We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

• 0:00
  Becky Endicott: Hey friends, you know, we believe community is everything. And that's why we're taking this week to introduce you to some of the incredible people doing amazing things in the We Are For Good global community. Today's episode features Adam Miller. We met Adam inside our We Are For Good and PRO communities. And you'll hear on this episode about the organization he founded Good Game Foundation. They're recruiting a team of professional athletes, sports fans and nonprofit organizations to win against the problems of modern society. To meet him and other like minded friends. Visit weareforgoodcommunity.com
• 0:32
  Jonathan McCoy: Hey, I'm Jon.
• 0:33
  Becky Endicott: And I'm Becky.
• 0:34
  Jonathan McCoy: And this is the We Are For Good podcast.
• 0:36
  Becky Endicott: Nonprofits are faced with more challenges to accomplish their missions and the growing pressure to do more, raise more and be more for the causes that improve our world.
• 0:45
  Jonathan McCoy: We're here to learn with you from some of the best in the industry, bringing the most innovative ideas, inspirational stories, all to create an impact uprising.
• 0:54
  Becky Endicott: So welcome to the good community, where nonprofit professionals, philanthropists, world changers and rabid fans who are striving to bring a little more goodness into the world.
• 1:05
  Jonathan McCoy: So let's get started. Becky, oh my gosh, it's community week. Are you so excited?
• 1:11
  Becky Endicott: It's community week. And I gotta tell you, before we even dive into introducing our guests, we feel like proud parents to have Adam DeVon Miller in the house, the most rabid of all fans, and just someone that we have been cheering for, for over probably almost two years that we've been in existence.
• 1:30
  Jonathan McCoy: Yeah, I mean, it is like a huge honor. I'm so glad he said yes to this today.
• 1:33
  Jonathan McCoy: Because Adam is one of those guys that came into the community early enough on before people were really talking, you know, and he really has set the tone for how you can show up and live your values and learn and come into a place with growth mindset. And Adam is like blowing the world up with his work. And today we're going to, like pour into that. But just the power of community and the power of just being authentic and making friends along. The journey is all about the story.
• 1:58
  Jonathan McCoy: So let me tell you a little bit about Adam. And I love from the second that I met Adam, you know, I've never been a sports guy. But even despite the fact that I don't like sports, Adam and I've just like been kindred spirits because of his passion for really activating athletes and really finding a way to connect with them on purpose and passion and channeling that into philanthropy has made us like borrows from a different mother.
• 2:20
  Jonathan McCoy: But when he found out about the Homeless World Cup many years ago, he just got inspired to use this platform of sport to do good in the world. And then he completed his own mission driven bike ride across the United States of America. Holy heck, can we please talk about that that's a story. You served in several philanthropic roles that led to the development of the Good Game Foundation. And he is a proud girl that of two, almost three year old and almost one year old, you know, the Miller House is like crazy town. But he literally jumped full time into Good Game Foundation. And he has been building this basically from scratch. And he's getting so much traction, and so much love and so much like energy poured into this because he's pouring himself into it in that way. And so today is a huge honor to have Adam in our house.
• 3:04
  Jonathan McCoy: Adam, welcome to the podcast.
• 3:04
  Jonathan McCoy: Thanks for saying yes.
• 3:07
  Adam Miller: Thanks so much, Jon, Becky. It's a pleasure to be here. I feel like this is a long time in the making. Super excited to jump in here and have this conversation.
• 3:16
  Jonathan McCoy: Oh, man. I mean, community is everything we love.
• 3:19
  Jonathan McCoy: You know, just kidding to see your journey through kind of the progression of it. I'd love for you to take us back. You know, take us back to Adam growing up.
• 3:25
  Jonathan McCoy: What set the tone for doing what you're doing today. Take us take us back and share your story.
• 3:33
  Jonathan McCoy: Sure.
• 3:33
  Adam Miller: Yeah. So my story.
• 3:33
  Adam Miller: I'm a small town Indiana kid, a joke often that the movie Hoosiers was basically my childhood.
• 3:42
  Becky Endicott: Oh my gosh, in my top five favorite movies of all time, that is such a good movie.
• 3:48
  Adam Miller: There's a quote in there. The coach says my, my boys only know three things basketball, farming in school.
• 3:54
  Adam Miller: That was basically my childhood.
• 3:54
  Adam Miller: Always involved with with sports, had a ball in my hand or playing with friends out back, whatever sport was in season.
• 4:05
  Adam Miller: That was what I was up to. And for me, I think just experienced the world in a lot of ways through through sports and some of my best friends. Still, to this day, we've we played t-ball together. So it's been something that's been ingrained in me my whole life. Just the camaraderie, the team oriented pneus of it. And had aspirations of playing professional sports, like a lot of kids growing up, but quickly realize probably wasn't going to pan out. So had to kind of figure out what was neck what was next. And that led me on a journey that I'm sure we'll talk about the bike trip and lots of different endeavors.
• 4:49
  Adam Miller: But the theme and I guess that story of sport has been a part of my journey my entire life.
• 4:57
  Becky Endicott: I love that introduction to you, Adam.
• 5:00
  Becky Endicott: because it's actually been a really big part of my life too.
• 5:03
  Becky Endicott: And I'm glad to take this part of it just playing on Little League teams and I mean doing college intramurals. And, you know, growing up and still wanting to run and compete in races, and when I say compete, I'm like the slowest runner of all time. So competing just means finishing. And I think that sports really do just bring us together, they give us energy. And when you do it in community, it's just more effectual. It creates more ripples, it creates more relationship and connectivity.
• 5:32
  Becky Endicott: And so I just want you to dive into the impact of sports in your life, how do sports like help you show up? How have they made you want to pour into this, and then we'd love for you to talk about the Homeless World Cup, and how that kind of translated into the source of inspiration of the foundation for you.
• 5:54
  Adam Miller: Yeah, I think an important word that you're pointing out in this, I'm sure it'll be a theme of this particular episode. But just the power of community or, or team, I think those two words in a lot of ways are interchangeable. And just have experienced that my entire life as a result of sports and playing basketball, football and baseball and the act of sport. It's a very selfless endeavor, you're kind of coming alongside your, your teammates, and working towards a one unified goal. So yes, there are like personal accolades that you can achieve along the way.
• 6:31
  Adam Miller: But ultimately, you're all kind of going in the same direction working towards that same goal.
• 6:39
  Adam Miller: And in a lot of ways, I think sports, there's a lot of metaphors and life lessons that come from it. And it's almost a universal language. You can go to like, like talking about, like, you could go to any basketball court across the country, and figure out how you're keeping score. But beyond that, you can kind of just dive right in and start playing with people you've never met before, strike up a conversation. And yeah, I think lots of great lessons come from sports. So for me, I ended up playing college football for a couple years. And one of the things that as I look back on it that that stood out was actually a trip that we did, during spring break my freshman year, it was a service based trip, we actually went down to New Orleans, the Lower Ninth Ward a couple years after Hurricane Katrina, but still our team there, we did a habitat build with some members of the community down there. And for the first time, I think just witnessing people coming together like that, sharing stories of overcoming Katrina and kind of rebuilding from that, lots of similarities between what we were doing on the field, and off the field.
• 7:55
  Adam Miller: And that experience, I always point back as being instrumental and kind of getting me to where I am today. And just an incredible experience that I had with some teammates.
• 8:06
  Jonathan McCoy: I mean, Adam, you're such a good listener, and like experiencer in life, like, I feel like you go with open hands and, and kind of go to these different experiences, and build your empathy muscle through the whole thing, but also collect those experiences to put them together to something so much bigger. It's just such like a thread of your life. But you got to take us to this like epic bike ride, like how many people have actually written the bike across the US?
• 8:29
  Jonathan McCoy: I'm like, is there actually a street to do that on like, reasonably, like, take us to why you did this. And what was the story there? Sure.
• 9:13
  Adam Miller: And this ties in nicely. So my senior year of college, my senior capstone project was kind of covering the Homeless World Cup. So there's a documentary called kicking it, that each year that there's a World Cup, the next year, the following year, folks from all over the world experiencing homelessness at that time, come together and compete against each other. But it's so much more than that so much more than the game and just saw through the power of that documentary, and then ultimately, the mission of the Homeless World Cup. So many, again, metaphors that related to life in general. And the stories that came out of that just really had a profound impact on me. And the ideal is that I am wanted to do something felt inspired and actually wanted to kind of raise money for the collection and distribution of sports equipment to kids in need. So this led me to after graduation, pursue cross country bike trip. It's kind of funny, I joke. I worked in the Career Center for three and a half years, and instead of looking for full time employment after graduation, instead decided to bike across the country.
• 10:24
  Becky Endicott: I love that about you, Adams very reasonable.
• 10:30
  Adam Miller: Yeah, so much my parents dismay. You But yeah, so I ended up biking from San Francisco to New York City.
• 10:38
  Adam Miller: Along the way, I had came up with an idea I called the t shirt. So folks could contribute as little as 10 bucks. And then I would put their twitter handle on my T shirt that I wore along the journey. So I didn't, I guess realize it at the time.
• 10:52
  Adam Miller: But my first experience of like crowdfunding and getting people involved in supporting a cause.
• 10:56
  Adam Miller: So yeah, that I could spend this entire time talking about the stories from that bike trip. But yeah, had a lot of ups and downs along the way had a lot of IT band issues. For those. I bet there's out there. But yeah, ultimately, it was an incredible experience learned quite a bit.
• 11:16
  Adam Miller: And that's sort of led me down this path that I'm on now.
• 11:20
  Becky Endicott: Okay, that is fascinating. As a runner, I have to ask you this. How were your feet? Like after you were biking that long?
• 11:32
  Adam Miller: Yeah, no, I think the biggest issue I had so not to get into too much detail. But like with with the cleats, when I'm locked in, I actually, two weeks before the trip, I had an adjustment done to those cleats and ended up like skewing my knees just enough that it really impacted my, my form. So ultimately, it's kind of had a pretty bad effect on my, my legs, my IT band, so my feet were fine, but it was the knees that were causing significant pain. But Jon I did where I had padded shorts, so that helped
• 12:07
  Jonathan McCoy: I can't run around the block and not be like...
• 12:11
  Becky Endicott: I do think that this story is so applicable. We just had DJ DiDonna on, and he was talking about the power of sabbaticals. And while we can't think you know, especially our parents, let's be honest, I will not understand the power in taking a hard pause, and pouring yourself into something like that. Because I can imagine being on the road alone, like that, is gonna give you an incredible sense of self actualization, thinking about things, your creativity. And so I love that this journey kind of started from that point, and I want to talk about the homeless cup. And you have the Homeless World Cup that really started as a source of inspiration for you, like, tell us about that. And what it awakened in your heart,
• 12:59
  Adam Miller: The word that comes to mind is like dignity. And for these folks that were experiencing homelessness. It was, it's just like a chapter in their lives. It's not like defining who they are. And I think a lot of ways like most of the people that were interviewed on this particular documentary, just talked about their their upbringing and their love and affinity towards sports, and that it was almost something that they lost, having to kind of experience life, all these challenges and difficulties. But through this, this collective entity that formed realizing the impact of sport and the power of sport to bring people together, it kind of re instilled some some goals and some trainings and some things that allowed them to persevere and overcome.
• 13:46
  Adam Miller: And that I love it, they they talk about how you're only ever allowed to compete on one Homeless World Cup, they don't bring back, they don't bring you back, the intent is to not remain in that in that position, but to kind of use that as a springboard into other areas of their life. So there's a quote in the documentary too, just talking about the new sense of community and belonging that these individuals experienced being a part of that team. That is always stood out to me. And just, if you've ever been a part of a team, you get it. And it gives you something to work towards. And even all the better doing alongside some, some friends and some individuals that are cheering you on and helps kind of get you back on track.
• 14:33
  Jonathan McCoy: Wow. Well, Adam, I mean, part of a big part of your story, since we've known you is this third child that you have in your life known as the Good Game Foundation. I mean, take us back to you know, creating this mission like what fueled your passion to want to do this and then talk about a little bit about what it does.
• 14:52
  Adam Miller: So after the the bike trip ended up, a lot of folks in the industry will probably relate with this, but found myself in a fundraising role. Didn't didn't set out to get into nonprofit fundraising, but ended up taking a position that allowed me to kind of start raising resources and necessary funds for different organizations, worked for a Parks Department of Parks Foundation, ended up then working for a YMCA for a number of years. And I just started noticing some trends when we were making asks, particularly of grant funders, there's like a shift in how our programs were expected to kind of be run instead of them asking like, do you anticipate Do you plan on partnering? It was just a foregone conclusion, it was like no longer Is that an option?
• 15:38
  Adam Miller: It's like, Who are you partnering with and how. And so I think for me, that partnership element started to see some parallels again of that, that team, that working together, lots of different organizations in various communities that are kind of all working in similar areas a lot of times, so that that was like a big trend that I started to notice. And then COVID hit. So I ended up losing my my job at the Y. And through that had some some free time to kind of start always had an interest in pursuing this athlete philanthropy idea, didn't really know what it would look like. But through March and April, May, there are a couple of different professional athlete related fundraisers nationally that collectively had raised over $60 million for various COVID relief efforts. So one in particular had like over 100 professional athletes participating. And that kind of was like an aha moment for me, started to do some research into other examples of when athletes kind of teamed up came together.
• 16:37
  Adam Miller: And then just the only results that were coming up where as it related to crises or catastrophes. So whether it's the national tornadoes, the California wildfires, various hurricanes that happen, I think, in times of crisis, it's it makes sense to kind of come together and team up and all that that's great, certainly is necessary. But I felt that just kind of question Why Why wasn't that being done with the causes?
• 17:03
  Adam Miller: So that was, again, kind of like the genesis of the idea for the Good Game Foundation. At the time didn't have the name or anything, it was just like an idea, just realizing that, hey, of those donors that collectively raised over $60 million? What's happening with the stewardship and retention of those donors like why can't we harness that collectiveness that team. And yeah, I was part of that, that that contributed to those funds and never heard from kind of the organizers again, which, nothing against that.
• 17:36
  Adam Miller: It's just, you do what you have to do in times of crisis, but just saw an opportunity to come up with a solution that on a day in and day out basis, kind of collectively work together for these causes.
• 17:49
  Becky Endicott: I mean, the good game foundation, it is to us it we're for good. It is one of the great heroes stories to us. And I want to like share this a little bit. Because the reason that we do community week is one, we want to be generous to our community. We want to share the microphone because what you all are doing out there inspires us every frickin day. And we have watched Adam, like an I don't want to say grow up at him. Because it makes it seem like you're young. It and but this, this foundation is very young, and you took it from the stream. And Jon talks about you being a sponge. You had been listening to podcasts you bought Pro, you've been engaging, you ask all these questions, you come back to us. And you tell us when we have broccoli in our teeth, which you've done a couple of times, like I think this could be approved in this way, which gosh, we love that.
• 18:46
  Becky Endicott: But you've also been sharing these insights that you've had.
• 18:50
  Becky Endicott: And we've watched Good Game go from this idea to like you've had, like some big moments, I feel like in the last month or two where you have just put your courageous mindset on and gone for it with some partnership assets that have landed and we are so stinkin proud of you, and your Moxie, and the grit that you have. And I just like I'm just curious, because you're so much in the early stages of this foundation and you're finding great success. What do you say to the people in the community out there right now who are have an idea in their head, or they want to try to go for something and take this great leap of faith which the reason we love you so much, in addition is you have two young kids, this is a huge leap of faith. What would you say to the others who are listening and they really want to go for it?
• 19:48
  Adam Miller: Yeah, thank you for for all the means a lot and this community We Are For Good community and the podcast. I none of this would be happening right now without the both of you and the team and the insights that I've derived from the various episodes I there's been multiple instances where I've messaged Jon, where he's like, Hey, listen to this particular episode that sort of inspired a new direction or a new way of thinking of how we approach our mission. And I think yeah, so for the advice of people that are out there working on maybe a side hustle a passion project. For me the why has never changed, but the how has quite a bit. So I think just being open to new insights and Yeah, there's earlier this year in January, when there was an episode talking about social impact networks. And before that had never heard of that term. I think I've always been aware of some of the themes that are emergence and kind of this impact network methodology. But literally up until that moment, that episode, it was just like it clicked. I was like, that's what we've kind of been working towards with this. And there's been multiple episodes like that. And the people in that have been interviewed. I've talked with several different guests of the podcasts and have all been great and helping. This isn't this isn't like, I'd say like my my thing. It's like, truly like a team effort here. I truly view you guys as like, teammates in this. And it's, it's been exciting to see like, yeah, Becky, the past couple months, there's been some some wins that we've experienced and some partnerships, and largely can attribute most of that all of that to the great insights coming out of the We Are For Good podcast and the pro community. And it's been fun to be a part of this.
• 21:41
  Becky Endicott: I reject that. I mean, I will take some of it.
• 21:43
  Becky Endicott: But I'm like you had the courage to go for it and to try stuff.
• 21:47
  Becky Endicott: And that is what I think is so inspiring about your story, because the Good Game Foundation is rising and succeeding, because you were brave enough to step on that ledge. And I'm just really proud of you.
• 22:00
  Jonathan McCoy: And I want to give you like, a fist bump from afar to just to say, you know, Adam made this transition when your daughters are so young, and you juggle that, like so beautifully, but you get to be present for so much of their life. What does that aspect of your story been like? Because I think a lot of people with a side hustle are thinking, Oh, I'll wait till I have this happen, or I have this bandwidth. I mean, you're, you're living this out in real time in front of us with two really small children.
• 22:29
  Adam Miller: Yeah, I think I can't answer that without acknowledging my my spouse, my wife that we have kind of come up with a great schedule that works for us balancing childcare and her full time job and working from home and the chaos of, of all of that all good stuff. But yeah, just having like a supportive network and team and family around. Yeah, there's days where I don't get to spend as much time on Good Game as I would like, but sort of just ebbs and flows, like anything in life. So coming up with that game plan, and it's been, I've gotten really good about having a to do list and being managing expectations with that. And if it doesn't get done, because I was with my two girls or something came up, that's totally fine. Had to kind of learn that along the way. So yeah, just with the nature of the work from home life, that's we've kind of seen a shift the past few years, just like a lot of people have figured that out on the fly. And having that support network has been very important and meaningful.
• 23:31
  Becky Endicott: Wonderful. I mean, I want to know about the dreams that you have for the Good Game Foundation. And I also want you to tell people like what you're working on and how they can help because this is a community that's going to rally around you and we want to know what you need and how we can be a light and a support to you.
• 23:48
  Adam Miller: So with with a Good Game Foundation, this is a quote that a, Jon this is a former football coach Vince Lombardi.
• 23:56
  Jonathan McCoy: Thank you, I'll add him to my Google list.
• 24:02
  Adam Miller: The Lombardi Trophy, the Super Bowl trophy is named after him. So he's kind of a big deal.
• 24:08
  Jonathan McCoy: You are saving me for the next cocktail party when he comes up.
• 24:14
  Adam Miller: So yes, his quote, famous quote, he said, people who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society. So that kind of tagline that problems, a modern society has been our focus our emphasis, and for me, and what we're doing a Good Game, just recognizing in the United States alone, there's over one and a half million 1.5 million nonprofits, and a lot of them are kind of working within similar causes or issue areas.
• 24:42
  Adam Miller: And like oftentimes, there's in my own community, there's organizations that that state that they're tackling homelessness, tackling food insecurity, in my mind, with the sports background as like, that's definitely needed that we need that. But to use the sport analogy, you don't you don't play the game to only tackle so and so like, you should be also looking to score and to kind of collectively win the game. So I think, started to ask the question of like, if you take just the Select cause or the issue area that these organizations are working in, for me that was almost like just it's like the team so your team homelessness team food insecurity team, women's empowerment, whatever it may be, and then creating this network or this league of organizations that together could be experiencing similar problems, but they may not be aware or have it that an organization down the street or across the country encountered that that same problem, found a solution that worked for them, and now have the opportunity to kind of share those best practices and work together. And then collectively keep score on Hey, this is we're all in this together, we're on the same team. Let's leave the competition on the field. And we can collaborate off I like to say a lot of times. So that's been kind of something we've been working for towards. And there are a lots of sport themes and analogies built into what we're doing.
• 26:06
  Jonathan McCoy: I was keeping track over here, I was keeping score.
• 26:13
  Adam Miller: Ultimately what we're doing, creating this, this team, this network of organizations and these professional athletes that have these large platforms to shine a spotlight on these causes that they care about putting together a scouting report, so identifying some of those common problems, issues that these organizations are experiencing, coming up with a game plan, and then through our monthly giving program and other partners supporting them as they collaborate and work together to then ultimately win against these problems of modern society.
• 26:46
  Becky Endicott: You already have a monthly giving program. I'm so proud of you.
• 26:51
  Jonathan McCoy: Solid brand I mean, you know, like he really prioritized doing that, which I think is beautiful. And it all connects so deeply.
• 27:03
  Becky Endicott: Taking a quick pause from today's episode to share some truly exciting news.
• 27:05
  Becky Endicott: To celebrate community week, we're officially launching our merch store. You can find it at we're for good.com backslash shop. There you'll find workbooks, coffee mugs, supersoft T shirts with your favorite sayings and more. We want to see we're for good shirts and merch all across the globe and gear corner of the world. snag a selfie with your merch and use the hashtag We Are For Good so we can see it. You can find everything over at weareforgood.com/shop.
• 27:43
  Jonathan McCoy: Hey friends, we're taking a quick pause to highlight more incredible members of the We Are For Good community.
• 27:48
  Ryan Steele: Hey Jon and Becky and the entire We Are For Good team. Ryan Steele rabid fan here sending a quick voice note to share with this community means to me. But first, let me start with gratitude for the two of you for creating this community.
• 28:01
  Ryan Steele: Matthew Helmer said it best recently on the podcast and rightfully so when he called We Are For Good the Beyonce of nonprofits like y'all are just creating this incredible content and lifting important conversations on mental health and equity in our sector that needs to be talked about. And you all are doing it all in community in the most insanely authentic way possible. And I could go on forever about that.
• 28:26
  Ryan Steele: But I just feel so grateful to be part of this community every day. It is lifted and inspired me through mental health struggles, given me friendship and connection that will last a lifetime. And it's helped me grow not only as a professional, but most importantly, as a human. Thank you all for creating this space. And for those who are part of this community and pour into it every day. Much love for all of you all. Community really is everything.
• 29:02
  Jonathan McCoy: This community gathered is powering the impact uprising. And we feel incredibly honored to play even a small part of each of these stories.
• 29:10
  Jonathan McCoy: So wherever you're at in the world, hope you know our team and the encouraging humans gathered in the community are cheering you on every single day. If you're feeling the FOMO and you want to join us head on over to WeAreForGoodCommunity.com Can't wait to see you inside.
• 29:19
  Becky Endicott: Okay, I got to ask this one question. And it's a selfish one. Who's your ungettable get athlete that you would love to connect with? I want to manifest this into the world and I have a guess on who it could be?
• 29:31
  Adam Miller: Oh, that's a that's a great question. I feel like the cop out would say LeBron, Lebron James. We just I've always been a fan of his and through his foundation has started building schools and has kind of been like a force for good in the sports industry and just the platform that he has.
• 29:53
  Adam Miller: But there isn't just one I can't answer that. I think this it's more about the team. So yeah, it'd be great to kind of name off different athletes, but truly, truly any athlete that is interested in teaming up with their fellow athletes are looking to get involved. I think that's what this is about. And there's nothing against athletes that a lot of athletes that kind of have their their foundations in their name, which a lot of great work has been done with that. But there's 1000s of professional athletes that it's, as I've learned through conversations with the teams and athletes and agents and others, a lot of them just don't know where to begin. So this is a way to kind of start to learn more about a cause cause get involved, and then see where that goes from there. But yeah, I don't know if there is one particular athlete beyond that, Becky, but did you have anyone in mind?
• 30:47
  Becky Endicott: I'm just laughing at you because I'm like you, you are so fantastic. I tried to narrow it to the one person and you brought it back to community. And you were like, No, it's about the team. I thought you were gonna say Peyton Manning since you were an Indiana boy, he played football.
• 31:01
  Becky Endicott: But I love it what LeBron if you're listening LeBron's people, please contact Adam at the Good Game Foundation and do gooders if you know LeBron, hook him up.
• 31:10
  Jonathan McCoy: But let's talk about this. Let's say LeBron calls you Adam, like how do you kind of surround these athletes that have a platform that have a network? And like what is kind of what does it look like to work with Good Game?
• 31:20
  Adam Miller: So each athlete as I've learned, and I mean, they're just like you and I, and a lot of ways just regular people that have interests and passions. And so oftentimes, they have a cause that they're wanting to support or get more involved in. But again, just don't know where to begin. So one of the first things, we just start to kind of generate a game plan of introducing them to some industry experts to learn more about a cause they're interested in. And one of the unique things I think about the athletes is just the geographic areas in which they participate. So they had their their hometown that they grew up in, where they played collegiately. And then now professionally, and oftentimes in multiple locations, if they're getting traded, or going on different teams through free agency. So their communities that they've been a part of, and the teams that they've been on, oftentimes, they're kind of partnering with several different organizations. So use the example like, if there's an organization they're already plugged in with or interested in learning more about, that's, that's great, let's, let's kind of bring them into the fold and start learning coming through this, this partnership model we're developing and learn more about a cause that they want to get more involved in, and then also doing so through teammates that they're part of the journey as well. So they're not alone in it. I think oftentimes, it feels like that can feel like that.
• 32:40
  Adam Miller: But just especially in light of the past number of years, community that the team, that camaraderie that comes with that, like making it about that.
• 32:51
  Adam Miller: And so that's kind of first and foremost, what we're looking to do to create, like the individualized game plan for the athletes to get involved.
• 32:58
  Becky Endicott: It's so fantastic. We've been talking about influencer fundraising and influencer marketing and the power of what can happen when you pair it, you know, with philanthropy, and something that they're so passionate about, I just think you're onto something here, Adam, it's just going to be wonderful to watch your journey unfold. So you know how much we love story here. And we want to know about a story of philanthropy, that has changed you as an individual and just stayed with you over time.
• 33:26
  Becky Endicott: What's one that kind of percolates to the surface?
• 33:30
  Adam Miller: Yeah, this goes back to my, when I was in college, it's going into my senior year that summer, I worked at a summer camp for kids with seriously ill diseases is how it was characterized. And it was part of Paul Newman, the Newman's Own Yeah. Yes, so big fans of always buy the salad dressings and the different products has go towards supporting the camps. So yeah, that my particular camp, there are eight weeks, all the different weeks, there are different illnesses ranging from heart disease, cancer, sickle cell epilepsy, and just being a part of that. And there is one particular week, heart week. So it's always interesting, like you can tell some of the kids that have been there before they see friends, but others, it's the first time and a little more apprehensive to get involved.
• 34:17
  Adam Miller: And one of the days it was, it was the pool day. So we're all getting ready to go out to the pool. We're in the getting ready. And there's one kid who who's kind of off to the side and I could tell something was was bothering him. And there's a kid that came over next to him and they sat down and the kid he like pointed at the other little boys chest, and there's like a three, four inch scar going down his chest. And he just stopped he like put his hand out and then touched it. And then he said, you have one too, and he took his shirt off. Yeah, that scar too. I think it was the first time and he just felt that he wasn't alone in that is very, very powerful. Something as simple as going into the pool, the kid that ended up kind of taking them out and going into the pool. It's just like a note no big deal to him. It's like yeah, we all have these. You're not alone in this for that kid.
• 35:14
  Adam Miller: He just really opened up after that. The rest of the week. You can tell there's just like a change a shift in him. And that always always has stuck with me just seeing that. You get caught up in fundraising and hitting your metrics and goals. But yeah, that you have one too.
• 35:28
  Adam Miller: That is been something that I've always held on too.
• 35:35
  Jonathan McCoy: I mean, the power of creating belonging and community and all of it together what a beautiful story like that's gonna stick with me. Like for the rest of my life do.
• 35:46
  Jonathan McCoy: Adam, you know how we roll these conversations up at the end?
• 35:50
  Jonathan McCoy: It's painful to ask, but give us your one good thing you know, what's the secret to your success? Or maybe a habit that you really stick to in life a mantra, which you got for us, man?
• 36:00
  Adam Miller: Yeah, I think this goes back to also anyone that's that's working on something side hustle, passion project. Or if you're just kind of getting started in your career, my mantra I have is win where you are. And that's for me, I think having these these lofty goals and aspirations with Good Game Foundation and beyond just taking a day at a time a step at a time. And being intentional with kind of those those daily wins that add up. That's been important for me, I think early on, kind of going through the motions, maybe oftentimes with with different positions that I was a part in and had my eyes on like the next thing, but it's, for me, so important to just recognize be in the moment when where you are, and get to that next milestone, but there's going to be good days and bad days, just focusing on that I think is, especially as you're creating something a good thing to keep in mind when you are.
• 36:59
  Becky Endicott: I mean, Adam is like the ultimate coach here, which like I can't get past. And I just think your story is so great. And as you've been talking, I have to tell you, because I just told you how much I love Hoosiers. I mean, there is this quote and Hoosiers and I've been thinking about it the whole time you're talking and it says, Let's win this one for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here. And I think Adam that like you're the embodiment of the little guy that's like building something so big and life changing and meaningful, and you're pulling it together, and you're giving so much hope to people who have these dreams and want to just go for it. So just so proud to know you. proud to call you friend and ally in this. And don't think I didn't notice that you did not activate our community.
• 37:48
  Becky Endicott: So you're doing it right now tell us how people can connect with you tell us what the Good Game Foundation needs? How can people help and share what they have, whether it's resources or their platform? What do you need? And how can we help you?
• 38:05
  Adam Miller: One thing that comes to mind, so a lot of the listeners work for nonprofits or volunteer with different organizations. If any of this is resonating with you, we are in the process of developing this kind of impact network framework and partnership methodology and going to be looking for different organizations to come alongside this networked approach. Our athletes will be involved volunteering and raising awareness for the great missions. I've connected with several different people in the We Are For Good mighty networks community kind of talking about this. And so if you're interested in learning more about how your organization can get involved, or if there's a professional sports team in your city, that you're part of all the better as well. So that's one way you can kind of start to get involved. Also, I had mentioned the fan club, so our monthly giving program.
• 38:55
  Becky Endicott: So cute, that name. Sorry, I shouldn't say that to a dude. But it is so clever. I love that idea.
• 39:01
  Adam Miller: Yeah, kind of where that came from just recognizing, yes, the athletes but also, in the United States alone right now, 26% of the population characterizes themselves as avid fans of sports. So that's 87 million people in the United States say that they're an avid fan of sports.
• 39:20
  Becky Endicott: That's me and Julie, not Jon. Sorry. Jon has lots of other interests, though, that are amazing. But you're talking about us.
• 39:29
  Adam Miller: That's right, part of 87 million. So yeah, so the idea with that, just sort of kind of tapping into that, that network of people that have played sports growing up, I've been on teams watch sports now.
• 39:40
  Adam Miller: And just kind of giving alongside our athletes as well.
• 39:44
  Adam Miller: So just like with any sort of monthly giving program, the idea is to pool our funds together.
• 39:52
  Adam Miller: And then 100% of those funds will go towards supporting the organizations in our network that we're looking to build out and solve these problems. So that's that's another area that been looking to grow and invest in and I think just a lots of possibilities and potential with that 87 million number. So that's another way we of course have a website goodgamefoundation.org Twitter, Instagram, probably most most active on Instagram. And then if you want to get in contact with me directly, my email is Adam@goodgame foundation.org. So please feel free to reach out just just getting started with this really excited to see this team This community that's being built in. Thank you. Thank you both for having me on. It's been a pleasure and we'll stay involved in connected with the community.
• 40:43
  Becky Endicott: You're rocking it.
• 40:44
  Jonathan McCoy: I mean, honor is all ours. I'm thinking of, you know, as not a sports fan. I did love Friday Night Lights, like there was something up the storytelling of that. And I'm thinking the mantra there Clear, clear eyes full hearts can't lose. And I'm like, that's you.
• 40:56
  Jonathan McCoy: You know, I feel like you've got this beautiful vision and you're showing up with such heart and we're just pulling for you, my friend. Thank you. This has been heart filling. And please reach out to Adam like he's just an incredible human being. So thanks for coming out and keep going.
• 41:12
  Becky Endicott: Adam, gosh, we're rootin for you.
• 41:15
  Adam Miller: Thanks. Thanks so much.
• 41:17
  Julie Confer: Hey, friends.
• 41:17
  Julie Confer: Thanks so much for being here.
• 41:19
  Julie Confer: Did you know we create a landing page for each podcast episode with helpful links, freebies and even shareable graphics? Be sure to check it out at the link in this episode's description. You probably hear it in our voices, but we love connecting you with the most innovative people to help you achieve more for your mission than ever before. We'd love for you to join our good community. It's free. And you can think of it as the after party to each podcast episode.
• 41:38
  Julie Confer: You can sign up today at we are for good.com backslash Hello.
• 41:41
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• 41:50
  Julie Confer: Thanks friends. I'm our producer Julie Confer and our theme song is Sunray by Remy Borsboom.