HILLSDALE—You know it’s fall football when the hoods come up. But not even the rain could keep the Hillsdale Turkey Bowl from continuing its Thanksgiving morning tradition. This year, local kids and their parents braved the elements to take part in the father–son flag football game, an annual event organized by Joe Gallucci since 2017.
The 2024 Turkey Bowl drew 48 kids, divided into six teams, along with their fathers and other supporters, making for a crowd of about 90 participants. While the games are always about fun and camaraderie, for the past three years, the event has also served a greater purpose—raising money for charity.
“We ask for $20 per kid, and all of that money goes to good causes,” Gallucci explained. “This year, we raised $1,400, which we split between Hillsdale Helping Hillsdale and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.”
Previous Turkey Bowls have supported the Hillsdale Food Pantry, the ALS Foundation, and the Forget Me Not Foundation.
The Thanksgiving morning games started modestly in 2017 with about 20 kids but have grown steadily each year, becoming a cherished community tradition.
“Even with the rain this year, everyone showed up ready to play,” Gallucci said. “It’s about more than football—it’s about coming together as a community and doing something good.”
The Turkey Bowl gives fathers and sons a chance to bond on the field while neighbors connect off the field, cheering and laughing despite the less-than-ideal weather.
