Planting Seeds of Hope at the NFL Draft: How a Weekend of Serving Changed Us

What do you get when you drop 25+ strangers into Green Bay, WI, for four days during one of the year’s biggest events, all for a good cause?

You get something you can’t predict and something you’ll never forget.

Each of us, representing Best Christmas Ever, showed up ready to raise awareness about families who have fallen on tough times through no fault of their own and how anyone can help. We offered our time, energy, and hearts, planting seeds of hope in the lives of people who needed it most. And along the way, we found ourselves changed, too.

The Power of Being Real

You might expect strangers to keep their walls up. After all, most of us had just met. But something different happened.

Stories flowed. Real ones. Stories of setbacks, resilience, and faith when the road got hard. There was a level of openness and vulnerability you don’t often see among leaders — and it was beautiful. In a world where leadership often means showing strength, this weekend reminded us that real strength shows when we’re willing to be authentic and honest.

The walls came down. Friendships formed. And somehow, a few conversations over brunch or in the middle of the crowded Draft grounds turned into moments that will stick with us forever.

Serving… and Being Served

We showed up thinking we were there to give — and we did. We were exhausted at the end of each day. But somewhere between handing out can koozies packed with information about Best Christmas Ever and the Colon Cancer Coalition, hosting a brunch for 150 guests, and collectively having thousands of conversations to raise awareness… we realized something powerful:

We were being served, too.

With every hug, every tear, and every story shared at a meal or in the middle of 200,000 people, we received more than we could have ever imagined. Gratitude flooded in, reminding us that service is never a one-way street. Sometimes, the ones we set out to bless end up blessing us right back.

Moments We’ll Never Forget

Some moments you can’t script like a 13-year-old boy along for the experience with his dad, inspired by his time serving alongside us, deciding to create the “Brave But Simple Challenge,” an effort aspiring to raise over $10,000 for the Best Christmas Forever endowment fund. Or the morning of the big brunch, when former NFL players joined our guests, swapping stories and selfies. Laughter filled the room, but the others-centered, tearful moments left the biggest impact.

Like the moment a mom battling colon cancer at just 45 was surprised with her Best Christmas Ever in April and special gifts for her two daughters. It wasn’t just about the items they received. It was about the hope, the encouragement, and the reminder that they weren’t facing this journey alone.

Bigger Than Football

With over 200,000 people crowding into Green Bay for the Draft, it would have been easy to get lost in the noise and excitement.

But the real magic wasn’t on the stage or under the bright lights for us. It was the one-on-one conversations, the hugs between strangers, and the simple acts of kindness that added to something so much bigger than ourselves.

We came to Green Bay thinking we would plant seeds of hope for others.

It turns out that a few seeds were planted in us, too: seeds of gratitude, seeds of deeper purpose, seeds to remind us that leadership, service, and life are all about showing up, raw, real, and ready to give and receive.

And for that, we are grateful.

Join us in the challenge — Donate and share with your friends and family to help bring joy to families in need!
Learn more about Best Christmas Ever here.