It’s one of those Marshawn Lynch moments that become iconic American culture. A teammate asks, “Whatcha doing for Christmas?” and beast mode fires back: “I gotta get to Thanksgiving first … I’m going to give out turkeys back in the hood.” It wasn’t just a punchline. It was a mission statement.
What’s the backstory? Two decades ago, it started small, with a few after-school football camps and some turkeys handed out for Thanksgiving in Oakland. By 2006, cofounders former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson put a name on it: Fam 1st. By 2011, it was officially the Fam 1st Family Foundation. Not surprisingly, it thrived with the support of family, friends, and community.
Fam 1st is more than drills and touchdowns, it’s about building a village. It’s mentorship with muscle, blending sports, academics, and real-world hustle into opportunities that stretch far beyond the field. Young people step into worlds of architecture, music production, culinary arts, coding, civic participation, entrepreneurialism, and business literacy, guided by a board rooted in family, friendship, and community. Board members include Kevin Parker, Robert Johnson, and Virdell Larkins, who lead alongside NFL heavyweights Marcus Peters, Derrell Reed, Robert Jordan, and Alvin Bowen.
Football and Thanksgiving may trace their history back to 1869, when Princeton and Rutgers first squared off, but Fam 1st has rewritten the playbook. In Oakland, Thanksgiving isn’t just about the game; it’s about the giving. It’s about turkeys handed out by neighbors, standing shoulder to shoulder, and a tradition that turns holiday spirit into community strength. Fam 1st proves that when family, friends, and athletes come together, the real win is true community love multiplied across the block.
On Nov. 23, the West Oakland Youth Center was buzzing. A U-Haul full of Grocery Outlet turkeys parked curbside, next to tables lined with frozen birds and volunteers working nonstop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day resulted in:
– 500 turkeys given away.
– 350 families registered online, another 100 deep in line, stretching a block long.
– Nearly $10,000 worth of birds distributed, with Grocery Outlet donating 50 and supplying the rest at $20 each.
And yes, Marshawn Lynch and Josh Johnson were right there too, doing what they loved doing: giving turkeys out back in the hood. The site is also not far from Oakland’s Chinatown, where a large portion of the senior Asian American community turned out in the queue.
Fam 1st Youth Program serves around one hundred kids in educational programs throughout the year in collaboration with the West Oakland Youth Center. Fam 1st board member, Virdell Larkins, a cousin to Lynch, says his grandmother is Filipino, and the emphasis on sports and family was always deeply rooted.
“Growing up out here, we didn’t really see professional athletes,” Larkins retells. We wanted kids to see them and touch them so that they know their future’s reachable. “Marshawn would let folks sit in the Lamborghini, even drive it. When you are with your community, you can move further [with] more power.”
Their philosophy is simple: athletes aren’t untouchable idols. They’re neighbors, cousins, mentors. Families give volunteer hours so their kids can join programs because giving back isn’t optional, it’s the glue.
The San Francisco connection
Across the Bay, the Bay Area Bright Foundation (BABF) helps keep Fam 1st’s summer programs going strong. BABF funnels long-term grants into Fam 1st, backing youth programs when public funding may be harder to come by. Former Executive Director Brije Gammage put it plainly: this year, Fam 1st lost $200,000 in city funding due to budget cuts, but demand didn’t shrink, as 20 to 30 kids are still on the waitlist. Seats are given to families who also commit to volunteer hours to support their myriad programs. Giving back in time and heart is a key driver of the program’s sustainability — “it’s necessary, and you’ll appreciate it more,” Gammage said. Gammage’s mother, who’s also a dedicated volunteer, worked for many years at Oakland Parks and Recreation, bringing her career experience to the success and sustainability of many of their events and programs.
BABF President Olivia Stobo, who stepped up in May 2025, isn’t just writing checks. She also volunteered for the turkey giveaway with fellow board member Patrick Hanlon and his wife. BABF contributed 2,000 canned peaches, corn, and beans to supplement the holiday feast. BABF also supports kids throughout the San Francisco Bay Area with three longtime grants of $50,000 each. For Fam 1st, Stobo designed and taught the summer youth curriculum herself at the West Oakland Youth Center. The summer program was three days a week of financial literacy, culinary arts, and career development for 70 kids, ages 4 to 13. BABF runs lean, with all volunteers, and an impressive expense ratio under 0.7 percent, which covers the QuickBooks subscription. It shouldn’t surprise you that Olivia Stobo was a recent accounting graduate. Her family has a long history of community service and civic engagement. She’s proof that new blood can carry old traditions forward.