Triple Lindy Here I Come

So at 53 I've decided to go back to school, no not like Rodney Dangerfield did doing Triple Lindy's for the Grand Lakes University dive team, but instead touring schools with a documentary my 21-year-old son and I made about a non profit running club that helps people recover from addiction and stay well.  This may not be quite as daring as Rodney’s heroic dive, but it seems safer and hopefully lands with students …. The film (“The Boston Bulldogs”) has won the Cannes World Film Festival award for Best Health Film in 2024 and will be shown at high schools and colleges for parents and students and recovery communities (like substance use treatment centers, AA meetings). I'm not a teacher so this could be interesting - likely more Q&A with Jack and I talking about the film and lessons from it like "not comparing yourself to others," answering questions and encouraging students and others to create their own club. Youth sports, student health and behavioral health are three growing priorities for policymakers with more funding starting to flow from insurer foundations to non-profits in recent years. Raelene Knolla, MD, who's the VP of Population Health for BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas City, told me these are three focal points of commitment for the insurer. "It's important work" and so too is the role of non profits in healthcare and social services broadly but non profits are at a crossroads too. Fred Smith, who is director of community services for the Maryville in Chicago, told me about the daily challenges they face recruiting and maintaining labor. "On-the-ground counselors just aren’t available," Smith said of his Chicago program that often tries to help youth who've at one point been in state custody.  Maryville relied on about 450 volunteers alone last year to fill the gap. In an annual BRG poll of health care investors, 59% of 133 surveyed said they are looking into non-profit investment for the first time and honing in on youth. The role of private equity in supporting non profits is likely to grow particularly around student health but there are some questions about how to structure these relationships and measure the effect of the funding. Either way, it’s clear school’s back in session and if I’m right will start to look and feel a lot more like gym class in future, and our kids will be better for it. To raise funds for The Boston Bulldogs non profit and tour launch I’m going to run in the Boston Marathon in April - all funds support the tour and you can contribute to that by clicking here or reach out if you have questions or interest about the tour and film.