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.
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:…