All right, all right.
Feeney talks with friends.
Episode 150.
Woohoo!
We got a live.
Audience here at New Park Brewery.
Give it. Up! Woo!
Thank you so much for being here.
Place is packed.
150. I'm here with a great guests ball for a cure.
How are you guys doing today?
We're doing good.
We're doing good. We're happy to be here. Yeah.
Special podcast.
Special people, special place.
We're here at New Park Brewery.
Thank you, new Park, for hosting us.
We got some drinks. We got some pizza coming out.
Truly means the world.
Thank you.
Direct line media.
He's been here from the start. 150 episodes.
We were right around the corner.
It's a vintage spot now.
That was Direct Line Media. He did behind the brand.
I he asked me about friends of Feeney.
And next.
You know, I'm the way out I go, hey, can I ask the questions?
And you record and he's been with me ever since.
So truly means the world.
Dave is a good friend, so give it up for Direct Line Media.
For 85 New Park.
If something sells and New Park Brewery will buy it.
So they're expanding.
Congratulations on all their success.
Tom is great.
John is great.
Tom's mom was a teacher.
John's mom was a teacher.
So give it up for the teachers.
Teachers are great.
My name is Eric Feeney, founder and president of Friends of Feeney.
And I use this podcast.
Feeney talks with friends, and I talk to a wonderful people
in the community that are doing great things.
So you're coming up on ten years in the community.
How's it been going, boys?
Yeah, it's, it's surreal really, to think about, we started ten years ago
after we graduated Konrad High Schools or shout out West Hartford.
We're in West Hartford.
We're doing work for the West Hartford community.
And the best part is that we have just made so many great relationships,
with businesses, with families with, first,
you know, essential workers at Connecticut Children's Hospital.
So it's really been a unreal journey.
And, we're excited to be here and kind of showcasing what we've done
and how we partner with people like, Eric leaning Van Sweeney.
Yeah. Our missions align.
We're just trying to help make the world a better place and help,
people that that have a tragic event or a heartbreak.
We, my
board of directors, Marty, Jan, Matt,
and all of our friends, tyhe are great,
but it's extra special for you guys because you guys started off as friends.
We became friends through friends of Feeney.
But I felt like you guys were friends. First.
Our motto is be a good friend. Hold the door.
Pick up trash.
Give compliments and be charitable.
But you guys started off as friends. What?
How does that dynamic change your organization?
Or how did that help?
Or just tell us about that?
Yeah, I mean, we're so there's none of us now.
Sorry.
And we actually have a couple sets of brothers.
So my younger brothers in, in the group as well, and my buddy Cole Stanek,
his younger brother is in it.
But, yeah, we've all known each other since,
I want to say probably since first or second grade,
pretty much across the board.
And it's been honestly, we were just so close.
And just being able to do this together is truly just,
it's just a great experience.
And we were connected on just a level, you know, some other people just aren't.
So it's just it's a great collaborative team effort and, and yeah, it's it's
been it's been a tremendous amount of fun, and a great learning experience as well.
And I, you know, I'll jump on that too.
We started ball for a cure because we were graduating high school.
We had such a close knit group of friends and family,
and we wanted to do something with that group for the community.
So we decided that we were going to do a fundraiser, a basketball tournament,
in honor of a classmate who was battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
And we did it in honor, and we raised, like, 1500 bucks
first year, Duffee Elementary School on the black tops out back.
And we were thrilled, you know, $1,500.
And we all came together, and I think it was from there, we realized
that we had both a powerful community and a powerful cause.
People really wanted to give a hand
up to people, and families that, could really use one.
And not just the hand up financially, but, you know, a sign of support.
So I think once we did that, all of us kind of looked at each other and said,
we can't go back, you know, like we got to just keep on going forward.
And as far as a friend group now, it's just connected us even more.
Yeah, I think like when we
when we first started it, it was, you know, looking back like you're
looking at ten years later that, you know, we'd be where we are right now.
But it's just we've had pretty much just constant growth.
And you know, we just the crowd just keeps growing.
And it's just it's been a great experience.
Yeah. Yeah.
Special group
I heard of you guys first episode 72 with the West Hartford Tree Project.
You know where I'm going with this.
Do you know Helen?
Is it Helen? Yeah. Ago. Yeah. Yeah.
So did you help? Was that her child that you helped first?
Yeah. Yeah, I was amazed.
And Seamus.
Seamus is the man.
Seamus is doing great, by the way.
And now he comes to our events and, a few of our events.
Now he's, taking the microphone
in the podium to kind of talk about the impact that community has to
somebody who is diagnosed at a young age with cancer, and finding that fight.
But also, it's, he.
Seamus is great articulating that kids still want to be kids.
You know, just because you have a diagnosis,
that doesn't mean that that defines who you are, right?
You're still a kid just like everybody else.
And when the community is behind you and treat you that way,
it's a remarkable thing.
Yeah. Helen was so thankful she talks so highly.
Episode 72. Go back and check it out with Ted.
Helen and Bill.
So great.
And Paul to Seamus, his dad and Helen's husband.
Great, dude. Nice.
Yeah. So analogy. You guys are like Voltron?
Yes. How old are you? Voltron?
I don't know about that.
One 2920 people come together like that.
They formed arms. And how about.
Are you guys like Wu-Tang clan?
I know you guys heard of them. Yeah.
That's Matt, I watch. He's in the clan.
I watch the Hulu, the Hulu show that they created.
Which one are you?
Are you Risa or Method man?
I'm Method man. George.
Great, great.
No. I love how you guys all have your special, power or
and and you come together to form one for one unit.
Let's go down the line and see what you guys are. You guys,
there's nine of you.
Yeah. Who could step out of nest.
Yeah.
So we have we have Cole Stanek, Will Dorsey Tommy.
Jason. Oh you got and can you, can you name their position.
Or their role?
I mean, it's kind of interesting.
We I guess we have titles, but we kind of just wear a bunch of,
like, all different hats.
Like, we kind of just we fill in where we need to.
But I think most importantly,
Cole is our is our graphic designer really one of the,
the key backbones of the of our, of our organization.
And then obviously, Luke.
Let me start with Cole.
Great job on the flier.
I put something together.
I don't know if I use clipart, Canva or something.
He's like, send it to me and let me polish it up.
And Cole, it came out great.
So thank you, Cole, our 150th podcast.
Yeah I mean he's an and he's that sure is phenomenal.
Look at that Pac-Man shirt I love the throwback to jam for sure.
What's going to follow up and talk about that later.
But yeah Cole great job with his designing and organize.
He does all the hats and shirts right.
He's like the creative inspiration.
He's he's really he's he's a magician.
Like, everything he touches turns out to be everyone.
People. People that don't even know, that don't even know about ball fake.
You're like, reply to my Instagram story or something.
Just say, hey, is there any way you can like buy that half for me?
They don't even like know what it is or doing anything but they just see things.
They're like, well, I'll just buy from you if you just.
I'll shoot you a Venmo or something. So that's all pretty cool.
And he does that for footlocker too, right.
To set up.
Lockers or something.
He does.
But you know, the guy wears a lot of hats.
He actually does a lot of analytical side for Foot Locker.
Oh, and he's studying you know what
what works for new stores and how how a new store can be successful.
And he helped set them up.
So, multi-talented.
And his dad is fantastic.
During Covid, he went around and taking pictures of people on their front stoops.
Yeah. Remember we took that picture?
That was Cole's dad project.
Yeah. Oh. So cool. And that was a beautiful photo.
That's like our one and only picture in front of the house.
Yeah.
And then got Tommy, Tommy James and Will Dorsey,
who do a lot of our financial work.
And, you know, that's a burden.
You know, like you're a small nonprofit.
It's kind of hard to, you know, use some of your fundraising dollars
to outsource for financial help.
So, you know, when you have people within your organization who are willing to do
the books, you know, invest in QuickBooks, file those taxes.
It's so helpful
because that stretches every dollar that somebody donates further.
And then what's great about our organization
is a lot of the guys on the board
take on individual events, and they kind of take point on it.
So Aiden Stanek and Brendan Connors, they joined a little bit late.
And they're they're organizing our Bowl for a cure tournament.
That's going to happen the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Taking a leadership role on that.
Brian. Okay.
When did you say bowl? Bowl for. Cure.
Oh where's. That Eric. You got him.
Yeah I'm going. To be there the after. Is there any of it?
Is that the one on by The bowler I'm on the umbrella.
Okay. Gotcha. And they treat us right.
We've been doing it I think five years now, and they're awesome.
We have a great day at bowl.
And, and then afterwards we go to a, venue.
I think we're locked in Ann Arbor Street again, for sure. Yeah.
So after the bowl and then there's a little concert.
So it's a great community day. Love it.
And I'll just do the rest of the shout outs here.
Brian O'shay is just instrumental to the organization, both
as the project manager, and also organizing super Sunday.
Max Kramer takes care
of all of our tech, and also a lot of our philanthropic drive.
He, he has a nonprofit background. Media an.
That's great in that.
And, Matt and I just kind of show up to some events, you know?
Yeah. And you guys are the face of the franchise. You're a good looking to
try that.
I cannot wait to watch.
And if you know who you are.
Supposed to be, I, I got a bad habit of banging.
You know, it's so funny to, like great kids and great families.
Like, I know some of your parents.
I don't know Dorsey Kramer, but I think I know the rest of you guys.
So great kids.
We can make those connections for you. Yeah, yeah. For sure.
See where you been at?
My life is a, walk at school guy.
Come on.
Yeah, he's an alum.
He's a walking eagle.
Come on, Max Kramer, we got to meet.
I know he's Graham.
I was wondering if he was related to my friend Dave, whose last name is Kramer.
Spelled that way. So he's a West Hartford guy, too, but.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure that that doesn't ring a bell, but maybe Tommy.
Okay. Great guy. Love them.
And Jameson,
Mark Jameson, both baller still.
Yeah. So now. Great.
That's nine people coming together.
Friends. Previous.
And you just doing great things.
Bowling for a cure.
Yeah. Beaufort is one of the best.
And, every.
Year, our fourth year, now. 50 area.
What date though? Saturday.
It's always a Saturday after Thanksgiving.
So I think it's the 29th. Yeah. It's here. Yeah.
November their ninth. I'm there.
And you know, it's it's a great event because. Yeah.
Sign up for a lane.
So you pick your six people and your family, your friends
and you compete against everybody else while.
Oh, it's your six versus everyone else.
Yeah. Team. There's about it's just like a scramble right.
Oh there's 40 there's 40 lanes.
So about 40 teams going.
And I think the one of the funniest things about the way we run
things is we always have a theatrical, presence.
So there's a costume contest.
So everyone wears just the craziest things they can find.
And it's usually a full team, like two sides on the same costume.
And there's just there's wigs and scarves and just all sorts of things
that everybody's wearing. And it makes it.
Yeah, it makes it a great time. I'm there, I love it.
We're getting a team Saturday after we're bowling
Bowl for a cure I love it.
Geez. Well, we're talking events.
We might as well keep them going.
So how I got a game.
You want to play a game or you want to talk about some upcoming events?
So we know ball for ball for sure.
Is that your next.
That's our next.
Oh yeah.
So we're we're competitive guys.
So we like the game. So if you got one for.
Us who won the bowling last year and what was the score.
The bowling lab. We'll start. Training.
They were they were in the two hundreds.
Was it final frame?
I think that was the name of their team. Like, oh, is that the.
That's your nail. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I think they did one.
They have a couple of competitive bowlers on that team. Yeah.
And the trophy is something did take pride and you get to take it home.
It's a bowling pin and it's it's on a nice platform.
So if you, when you get to take home the ball for your trophy,
put it on the mantel for a year and bring it back next year and defend it.
Yeah. I'm not much of a bowler.
I just go for the costumes.
That's awesome.
All right, I'm there.
Oh. Stick around.
We got to tell you. Stick around after the podcast.
Lonesome Eddie in the bird box.
We got to get into those guys.
I'm very excited. Eddie's a great guy.
Lonesome Eddie, though. He's like, he has a lot of friends.
Why is he lonesome Eddie? Is this. Is that a question for him?
Yeah. You know, that's one. And the bird, he's out of that.
Thought about that. Before. What's a bird? Why the bird?
I think they're all friends.
And Eddie's just in the band, you know?
But. Eddie.
Eddie cars is the man.
And, you know, I think I grew up playing basketball in his backyard
as, like, a little kid.
And then they started that band,
and they are by far just a staple of the Hartford community.
They've played at one of our events
every single year, I think, since we, we started getting going.
So all the guys in that band are awesome.
And Matt obviously has a lot of blood relationship to some of the guys.
In the band. Yeah, I know anybody in the band.
Yeah, yeah. My dad is the, my dad's the bass player.
My, my uncle is the rhythm guitarist and and singer as well.
So it is super cool just to have that
family presence, at all of our events.
How's your musical talent?
I don't have.
I've got nothing but my dance moves.
You ask me. Cut it up out there. You'll see.
All right.
And stick around, because we will be filming some of the of,
his couple opening songs, and we're really excited.
Eddie. Car.
I was honored to get the honoree for the Saint Patty's Day
parade a couple years ago.
And Eddie car got the marshal.
So I'm ever connected.
He's Batman, and I'm Robin. Yep, yep.
And we're both really good looking, athletic daughters named Bridget.
I mean, it's it's we're connected forever. Love that guy. Oh.
Thanks, Eddie.
Stick around for the concert after Lonesome Eddie,
we talked about your inspiration for A ball for a cure.
So our game.
First, last, best, worst events.
Your first event.
Your last event, your best event and your worst event.
Like something went wrong or missing, you know.
It's hard to say. We.
I don't know if we have a worst event.
But I think I think the best event,
I think the best event, honestly, is, is jam for a cure.
I think it's it's the most fun.
I think everyone gets together again.
We do another costume contest there.
So everyone's wearing funky outfits.
We've had theme, so we've done,
we've done the 60s, the 80s, we've go rock and roll.
What else have we done?
We've done, Western, disco.
Western, disco. Y. In. Yeah, yeah.
And it's and I think that one is the best because
that one's like any of you get at a sport, you don't need to do anything.
You just need to show up and just listen to great music.
And then par for markets also just an incredible venue to be at.
And they are they're truly great.
And then,
my. Just missed it.
The man the men have been real quick.
Any car? Eddie, car is here.
What? Some give it up for Eddie. Car.
Maybe. Honey,
honey, how are you doing?
So you're missing a 10 to 1.
I know. Want to do a live set right now?
I'm gonna sing a song I.
Always, always good to see these two.
Awesome.
Yeah, we're we're very excited.
Thank you for letting us partner up and collab and join your party.
You're amazing for a. Great cause, man. You walked in.
We were just giving you so much kudos.
You just missed it by, like, two minutes. So rewind.
You got a big question I was listening.
We do got a big question for you.
Oh, yeah.
Why are you so lonesome?
I got too many friends.
It just keeps on so. So. Yeah, I don't know.
You know what? It's just you do some.
Your never George Gobel lonesome George Gobel who's an old comedian stuff.
And he was just a funny guy on the guy.
It'd be kind of cool.
Nickname lonesome for one of the lonesome Eddie in the bird dogs.
We kicked around. Bird dogs.
We do jailbirds we don't anymore.
Yeah, but we ended up on bird dogs, so.
Got a logo and everything.
Thanks to, call hall and call mic and stuff.
So. Yeah.
And you guys, you guys also had a, a, a brass section.
The the brass puppies. Brass puppies. Yeah.
And Connor's, coached AEW girls basketball.
And one of the girls in there, Molly, was a,
was a trombone player, so, yeah, the whole jazz band.
So we said get any friends that might want to play.
And so she grabbed McGee, trumpet player and a couple others and stuff,
but those were the two ones.
But we would play a dozen songs or so with the brass.
Poppy's with us some stuff.
Now, about five years ago, we're playing club.
Yeah, about five years ago we're playing at,
at, the Red Rock.
Yeah.
And they were home for Thanksgiving.
Molly is now a doctor
and now a lawyer, and Maggie's now a doctor.
And so we said, hey, welcome back to Brass Puppies.
Molly's a doctor,
Maggie's a lawyer, and we're still playing in the same crappy bars.
This. Year. Later.
They're awesome. They were awesome. We miss them.
We miss them. They're great kids. They were great friends.
But we've been better to get a longer than the Beatles.
So, you know, that's not to brag, but I love it.
Absolutely.
And we love.
Playing for, for ball for a cure.
That's an awesome.
Thank you. That's an awesome, awesome.
I mean, I just we always think about what we were doing at these kids ages,
and I don't want to talk about it, but you guys, you guys are, are awesome.
And you've been doing it since high school.
Yeah. Yeah, we're so much.
So you probably already spoken about this stuff.
So ten year, ten years.
Yeah.
And, I mean, it started with basketball that we all played in,
then morphed into the bowling and into the ball for the jam for a cure.
And and you do the things superheroes, superheroes and stuff.
So it's awesome.
It really is great and great. So, and we love playing for you guys.
It's always fun.
And Eric, your thing, you and I, we go back to you
on the Saint Patrick's Day heroes. He's.
It's just saying. That's it. Yeah. So,
as I said, I was the marshal and you were the honoree.
The honoree is, you've done something.
You've actually actually done something good for the town, which is your your,
your charity, the a marshal.
All I had to do was try not to get too drunk and get off a parade route.
Hey, that's not an easy task.
No, it's.
I mean, come on, you serve a credit. So.
So anyway. What we gave out Mike to sing.
Come on, give us a little song.
I got, let me think, One week when.
Our monkeys is more than you can say.
And so get monkey's meat products.
Look for this circle lamb brain.
All right. We. Yeah. Go set up. Thank you.
Won't stick around.
Eddie's playlist. Yeah. Thank you. Eddie. We'll see you.
See you.
Take it easy. Man.
Best worst last first.
So I we were in the middle, George, for a cure.
Now, do you do costumes at everything?
Do you do costumes because you guys had themed.
Well, matching foursomes for the golf two.
Is that encouraged? Yeah. Is there a prize?
There's no prize at golf? No.
We really encourage the prizes.
Just for the jam.
But, you know, we like it when teams get creado
because you want to let people know who's on your team. Exactly.
So that the amount of costumes and like, onesies and wigs
I have in my closet, you think I'm a huge it's it's insane.
My mom is like, whoa, what are you what is all this stuff?
It's it's it's hysterical.
And I it's it makes it so much more fun.
Nice.
I think, I think my favorite event, Superhero Sunday,
super Sunday is a relatively new event for ball, for sure.
We just had our third, and we're about to do our fourth.
We partnered directly with Connecticut Children's Foundation.
And last year we had, over 1500 people
who showed up to do A5K on a Sunday morning and Super Sunday.
And then we have a big community bash with everybody.
And my favorite part about this event
is it piggybacks on Connecticut Children's Superhero Day.
So at the hospital they have one day every year where
everybody dresses up as a superhero and reminds
the children how courageous they all are, how they're the superheroes in our lives.
So they have that event at the hospital, and we, worked
with Connecticut Children's to kind of bring that outside of the hospital doors.
And that was the beginning of Superhero Sunday.
So now every year, that's a good costume party
because you got people running the five K and some crazy, outfits.
We have a kids K, so like a kids mile that the kid younger kids can run.
And then afterwards, we just have tons of tents and community businesses set up.
We did that Wethersfield Cove last year.
And it's just it's a special day.
It's done in the morning.
It's just it's
a, wholesome way to end your week and, I guess, start the new week.
Nice. Do you know the date on that?
I, you know, I gotta look at my calendar.
It's usually the last Sunday in April.
Okay, so Sunday maybe, next year, last Sunday in April, and we'll promote it.
It is, it is a great event to attend I love it.
All right. You know, try to make that one too.
I like dressing up.
I think I have a,
what superhero I was.
Spider, Superman. Sure.
Okay, that will. Work, I have one.
Have you ever donned a Spiderman costume?
What is Don?
Don like? Worn it. Don. And. Oh.
Yeah, we all wear Spider-Man's our first year.
But not Superman. We haven't done the Superman yet.
We haven't done Superman. We just done Spider-Man. Spider-Man.
It's like you got to be comfortable with your body.
There's a lot of me. We are weird and skin tight.
Though you are, you are we?
We threw some shorts on it. Right.
You got to remember, this is a family event. Yeah.
And we still believe in, you know, making everybody feel excited.
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
No, I did it at, at a parade during a camp, and I was just like.
Oh, but, yeah, maybe.
Maybe, you know. Let's shorts up.
Have some.
So first, last, best, worst.
We got your first one.
That was, the our basketball tournament, so I was.
Oh, yeah. So you.
I remember your mom telling me you were like.
She was like, when Luke had that 1500 bucks, it will.
Could have been a million. It him.
It was so proud.
And and then that, like, lit the fire. Yeah.
Here you are ten years later, like growing.
And it's just an amazing story.
Well, I think, you know, and you get this too,
with your friends, Afeni, that it's not really just all about
how much money you raise, but how much money you can
raise is a testament to the community that you're bringing together.
Right? Like so ball for a cure.
Our our mission is to unite communities around patients and families.
A pediatric cancer, but, you know, sometimes we get lost
and we need to, you know, raise as much money, which is our goal, right?
Is to raise as much money to help as many families as possible.
But it's also to bring people together
to show people that there's a community behind them, to stand in solidarity.
So when we got that $1,500 that first year, I was just like, look at this.
Like we actually did something with the community that we're a part of.
And I think I was more proud of the people who showed up
for all of us than I was just to get, you know, some money.
Right? Like it's like you're proud of it.
Then you're like, I. Got this for playing hoop.
And then and like, you know, just we did our,
we did our jam for a cure golfer cure the other weekend.
And this was just one weekend and we raised over $35,000.
So, you know, like, you can see that.
Yeah, 1500 has has grown.
And and I think,
in our organization, we're proud to report that we've raised over $500,000
over ten years for yeah, it's cool for patients
and families of pediatric cancer and for the Connecticut children's,
Greatest Needs Fund. So that's amazing. It's been cool.
Half a mil. Yeah.
Jeez. That's. Well, congratulations.
Cheers to that. It's good. Yeah.
To. All rights go over some spine.
We've got some sponsors here. Direct line Media.
We talked about golf law group, Parkville management, Keating agency, people's
Bank, the fix, Ivy float 41,
Sally and Bob's and West Hartford lock.
So with West Hartford Lock,
what are three keys that make you guys a great nonprofit?
Three keys brought to you by West Hartford Lock.
Yeah.
I think the first thing is that you want to be fun, right?
Like the goal of a nonprofit isn't to just,
you know, drag everybody out for some event that you're running,
but you want it to be
something that people get excited about and that they rally behind. So.
So that's number one is we try to make all of our events a lot of fun.
Yeah.
I mean, one of the best things you hear is right after an event,
someone will be like, I man, I can't wait for this year and next year.
Yeah.
And like they already got in their calendars like.
And people that can't come, they're like, I got to make sure I make time for this
and set aside that weekend for next year because it's just always so much fun.
Yeah.
And number two is like in that same vein is the community partners.
Like, there's no way that a small nonprofit where 100% volunteer run
grassroots,
there's no way that we could succeed without community partners like New Park
Brewery, like Parkville Market, like the people over at Tonks says.
Like all of our sponsors,
fresh, and who does all of our shirts like the list goes on and on and on.
And you can't be successful without community partners.
So that's number two.
And then I think
the third point is that, you just the third key is.
Yeah. All right.
The third key is just to have to build that community.
Right. Like, yeah.
And friends of Feeney, I mean,
the best thing that you guys did, I think, is be a good friend.
Oh, right.
Like, how do you build a community more so than just kind of with a slogan
that we all want to get behind? Yeah. We want to be like your friend.
And and that's how you become successful.
It's like you build a community
that people might not see each other throughout the year,
but they'll show back up for that golf tournament
or for that Saint Patrick's Day after party,
and they'll show up and they'll see the same people
and they're just like, get, you know, proud and excited to be doing
something good for the community, with the community that they love. So,
if I got that right, community partners,
making your events fun in the community who actually shows up?
Love it.
Three keys. Three keys. And yeah. Thank you. Yeah.
Like you pointed out, to be a good friend, this is like,
everyone should be able to get behind us, drive like a friend,
you know, like I say, we hold the door, pick up trash is not yours.
Just anything. Be a good friend.
Call it.
Check in on a buddy.
Yeah. Write a handwritten note to someone.
Thank you. Cards.
All different ways to.
Be a laugh.
Ask somebody how their day's going and actually,
like, mean it and want to hear the answer.
Yeah, you know, like start there.
Also huge thank you to Fresh up Fresh
ink day from Fresh ink involve all of our sweet.
Yeah cheers.
And they've asked that he loves the ball.
Jam for a cure.
Loves that guy. Knows his music.
Sure loves jam for a cure.
Now he did.
He did cold design that and send it to Dave.
Yeah.
No, I think I think, I mean, we had another set of T-shirts, but
I think Dave just kind of just printed these just on his own accord
and then this and gave us a couple extra shirts, which is great.
And I saw him rocking the hand, the ball for cure hat. Wow.
So he's a good guy big time. Oh, yeah.
We got some pizza coming in. We'll do a better heals.
He's been with us all ten years, right, I think.
Wasn't he the one who did the shirts our first year too?
Yeah.
He's he's great man.
And he he truly enjoys it and loves going to our events,
which is all we can ask for.
Yeah. And his partner Tom, shout out to us.
Yes, yes.
Hatchets. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That guy's funny.
Yeah. When you call and talk with him.
Tom touched on Tommy, I call him I love Tom.
It's gone.
Touchdown. Tom.
I will,
yeah. Awesome.
Awesome stuff you got going on there. So.
Oh, French Cleaners is our presenting sponsor.
I cannot not think French cleaners.
You ever connect with them or use them?
I got to use a suit all the time.
They're my dry cleaning them in Park Road or my dry cleaning.
Go to love those guys. Yes.
French cleaner can get the stain out of anything.
Yeah, I drop wing sauce on a pink shirt.
I got a dirt on a hat once.
Bring it to French. We need that. Eric. You?
Yeah. Like. Yeah.
I was going to say I could have. Really?
Is that since I somehow stain everything that I wear.
I cannot wear something without getting food on it, so.
Yeah. So then we got some questions. Just like,
what was a moment that you guys sat back and we're like, man.
Like got emotional about like I'm sure I'm going to guess it was like the run.
Your five k run sounds like that.
You're really passionate about that one. But that would be my guest.
Letter to Matt first and I'll think of mine.
Or Jim on the hot seat.
Yeah. Put me on the hot seat.
I mean, as a tough question,
I guess, because, you know, I think, I think we,
we have, like, a team meeting and like, and like a collaborative, you know,
sort of, like dinner or something after all of our events.
And I think every time it's just, wow, I just can't believe that this is so.
And there's endless opportunities, right?
So just keep spitballing.
After lights keeps growing and growing and growing.
And I just don't know if there's an actual moment.
But every time after the event,
we all get together and just
kind of like, just take it all in, like, all right, well, I guess we just got.
We gotta keep going. We gotta.
We gotta find new ways to get creative and grow.
So I can't think of a specific event, but,
What I'm.
Going to see now that I had a minute to think about if,
you know, you did mention that Super Sunday
and this is an event that really we get good buy in from the hospital
where a lot of patients and their families and the staff, the doctors and nurses,
they show up.
And I remember I ran the five K this year.
What were we in?
Incredible costumes this year? We did Incredibles this year.
No no no no, we were flash this year right where we were. Flash.
So I, we ran in in a flash costume.
I crossed the finish line and I see my dad's watching everybody.
So I go and I stand next to my dad, which is cool, by the way, right?
Like when your whole family gets involved.
And that's how we've been so lucky, is we got like the best families
who always show up for our events and help out.
So I'm standing next to my dad and we're watching people cross,
and there's a little boy must have been less than five years old,
and he was receiving care at Connecticut Children's, and he was in a full walker.
And his mom was kind of helping him get towards the finish line.
And then she let go of the walker and he started,
you know, walking on his own and slow.
And everybody realized what was going on. Right?
So everybody just starts clapping him on at the finish line
and he's going and he's kind of looking back at mom.
He's smiling, and he crosses the finish line.
Everybody erupts, right?
Like they're so excited for this kid who's receiving care.
He has a lot of mobility impairments.
And just like the joy that you saw on this little kid's face.
And I turned to my dad, and I was like, that's why we do it.
Yeah, right. There. She's.
Get me in my feels, man. Yeah.
Yeah. Your breath.
That was awesome.
That was great.
That's great.
Sharing that personal experience. Yeah,
I'm a third grade teacher.
So, you know, I've been working with kids for the past 22 years, and it's a help.
I'm in and out of the classroom. It's like it's an amazing thing.
You see stuff like that
and just puts a perspective on your life, you know, like what?
You could be having a bad day and you're like, that was truly amazing.
So no, nobody makes a bigger impact on the community
and future generations than teachers. Yeah.
So like, shout out to the teachers out there.
You guys are the ones who make it happen.
Absolutely. Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, yeah.
Speaking of which, why didn't you become a teacher then?
I made that silly decision.
I went to law school, became a lawyer, but my mom's a teacher.
My dad's a teacher, my sister's a teacher.
It's just in the bloodline.
So, you know, hopefully I'm still young.
Maybe one day I'll get back and get into the classroom.
You never know.
Doing this whole law thing, though. First.
Yeah.
Shout out to Coach Reynolds.
Great coach teacher. Great guy, awesome guy.
Luke and I were actually a camp counselors that run, right? Yeah.
Together for we went to camp together and then we became camp counselors
for years after, after we were too old to actually go to camp.
But the best. Summer job of all time. Was incredible.
I remember a summer adventure camp and it. Yeah.
But yeah, we actually, Brian and Shay was also a camp counselor with us.
Max Kramer showed up for one day, one time.
Bring your buddy to work day.
I don't know if the camp were, approved of that one, but.
No, no.
That's great. No. So, yeah.
Camp counselors halfway to being a teacher.
You're there. You did it.
You experienced it sure is not listening.
Yeah, yeah.
So now. No, I don't want to. All right. Fun.
No. It's great.
Oh, so that's a question I ask my favorite teacher, Mrs.
Giraud.
My fifth grade teacher, practically changed my life.
My parents were going through a divorce. I was in a tough spot.
She met with my mom. She met with me.
She let me play.
Where in the world?
In Carmen, San Diego, the Oregon Trail, you know.
And then next, you know, I was sitting by myself because of my behavior.
But then I got to join a group she like,
and then she became a principal and then hired me to be a teacher.
So I taught at the same school I went to as a kid, Kingsbury School in Waterbury.
Wow. My favorite teacher.
So who's your favorite teacher?
I think I'd have to go with, Mr.
Coleman.
He was actually.
George Coleman, but, As you say, Coleman.
Now, he was, I took ancient Greek in high school
as my language and just kind of like to try something new.
And he was just super awesome. Super just.
And he.
Oh, we actually.
Yeah, we also went on a, a trip to,
to Europe with him as well, actually.
Well, Dorsey joined me on the trip as well, but,
basically, he was the one who convinced me to do it,
and it was one of the coolest experiences that I've, that I've had.
So, yeah. Dynamic guy. Yeah. He's great.
I got to go with Doug Crampton.
And if you're listening to this, shout out to Mr.
C, not only was he, my baseball coach back in the day,
but he was my history teacher in eighth grade.
One phenomenal teacher.
But he he really instilled the importance of learning our history
and how that shapes who you can be as an individual
and what you might want to do based off, you know, history.
And he taught us more than just being a student,
but he, you know, showed us how to be a good person, which is nice, little guy.
So Coach C's men.
Women. And are we very far?
All right, well, coach C, watch this minute 35.
Coach C right. Mr. C is this red bro?
Mr. C yeah. Red Brook you think? Is he still there? Is he still around?
Oh, he.
Knows he's retired.
He's taking care of his grandchild up in Boston.
He moved up there, but I saw him a few weeks ago.
And I'd be remiss to say Mrs.
Cramp and his wife, my first grade teacher.
Man, she she she taught me how to count, how to start.
Right? Like she was the best teacher she was.
She was fun.
So I think the two of them, probably they might outshine
my own parents as teachers for the best couple teachers, Award.
Yeah.
I actually have to change my answer
to just every teacher that ever had to deal with me as soon.
Yeah,
I know, I
like I said, I
went back to teach at Kingsbury School and a couple of teachers were still there,
like Miss Wise, that she was like, you're a teacher.
Like she remember me as a kid.
I was just like, oh, yeah, I was scared.
I mean, it's wise as a student, and I was scared of her as a teacher.
So you understand what I had to go through?
Yeah. Yeah.
I know all the tricks
now. Cool.
So ten years coming up. So congrats.
Where do you see you guys self in like five years from now?
Ten years from now?
You're all high school buddies, you know, getting up there.
You guys are so old now.
Getting up there, dude. Come on.
I got my best years in front of me.
Come on.
Don't make me feel that way.
You know, we're about to hit 30, so we're,
we're we're a year away from that, so we're starting to feel it.
I can tell you that much.
We're not playing basketball anymore.
So. 30. Yeah.
But I think we're excited about the future.
Like Matt was saying, we've grown every single year since starting.
And I think what we want to do next is kind of expand our mission,
into different communities that are doing philanthropic events
and might not know what cause they want to get behind.
So we actually rolled out, a college initiative that we've done at
Uri at Michigan and at Maryland now,
where we partner with fraternities
and sororities to kind of like take our blueprints of our events,
and roll it out in their community to support patients
and families and pediatric cancer within their community.
But I think to really execute that well, I think the next step is hiring
an executive director or somebody who can devote a lot more time to it.
And really seeing this model, which is based off community
and bringing people together for the people within their own community,
kind of rolling that out in other areas of, the state, in the country.
So I think that that's our lofty five, ten year goals.
I like, and we're on our way, but, we just got to get there.
I don't bob the kids.
I like the idea colleges and. Right.
Because the whole thing is about, like, we started when we were in high school.
And that's not to say that you can't start at 60 years old doing what we're doing,
but it's a great time to, you know, bring a group together.
And we have the luxury of saying, not only will you feel like you're
doing great things in the community, but you'll never feel closer to your friends
than if you do something with them year over year to help other people?
I like it.
Yeah. Man.
I'm I'm just happy to finally.
We're, like, connected.
We play hoop together. Yeah.
I can't believe you're only. You're not there. Yet.
Eric. Sneaky. Pretty quick. Up and down the court.
All right. Yeah.
Now, funny, when, You likes to post on the, the block, though.
He love Oreo. Which.
Tom. Oreo. Yeah, yeah.
Oreo called me Feeney. Reese. Feeney. Reese.
Angel. Feeney. Yeah.
Because I, I missed all these layups that I kept getting my rebound.
Oh, I didn't say you actually made the shots.
You just post up down there, all.
Right, it's ten in a row. But I kept getting my board.
He goes, Feeney. Reese.
Yeah, I was like, wow, that kind of hurt. Just padding.
Mario got me
and time the guy there, right?
Yeah. The shooter. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Shoot it.
I mean, when you have to go to that guy on a Sunday morning
after going out Saturday, it's it's a nightmare.
Yeah, truly a nightmare.
He keeps you also very generous. Donated cigars.
Does he donate cigars? Yeah. Yeah. He donated.
He was out of town this year, but he donated last year for the cigars.
Great guy, great guy.
And then James and.
Dude, don't mess with Damon on the court.
Yeah, well, you got to remember Draymond played college ball.
All right.
He's got a little like you know fundamental leg up on us.
Yeah.
But I'll never be intimidated by that guy.
You can't.
All right I.
Was talking to Jameson last night at the bunker after the golf tournament.
We were out and he was laying him a chopping up about how we can get
a New York league and, maybe doing a tournament there.
And he was just he was like, he's just got to do he's like,
get those, get those lazy guys up in New York, get them together.
You guys can said, you guys can send it to him out there.
And I'll see. He's right.
We should we should get back to our roots.
Yeah I like you know Jamie love that guy.
Now, I think I filed him once or something.
He's like, Fini looked me dead in pieces.
Don't ever do that again or it's going to be on kind of like that.
And I was like, okay, got all serious.
Or he said, a screen, and I ran through it, or
I moved the screen or something where my shoulder hit his stern.
I he'll, he'll, he'll tell you, yeah. He, he can take over a game.
Oh yeah, he can do that.
And then oh he's got a great shot. Okay.
Yeah, yeah.
He, he's he's good. He like that turnaround.
He thinks he's Paul Pierce out the corner over there. Yeah.
Good.
That's guy I like to guard. Yeah.
Not just because you got some inches I.
That's it. Yeah.
So no.
And then you do some really cool stuff.
We talked yesterday. Longest putt.
I love that stuff.
Yeah. I didn't think about that. You know we have a golf tournament.
We do longest drive.
We do closest to the whole hole in one, of course.
But the longest putt. Like you got to be creative.
Yeah. We are.
It's actually not us.
Like, we lack the creativity here.
There's other guys on our team that are amazing, but also our volunteers.
So each year at our golf tournament.
And this is why you should play, whether you're a good golfer or a hacker like us.
Yeah.
Because each hole,
there's something different going on.
We got all these volunteers out there who are coming up with new creative
things.
Like on one hole this year, totally not planned.
They had a handstand competition, and they had somebody for doing photographs.
So each team, they get up there, they're getting up to the tee box
and they're just like, hey, we're doing a. Handstand.
Handstand and everybody was like, what?
And they all did it and they got pictures.
And then they put all the pictures off next to each other of all these people.
So like our volunteers are the ones who just keep on thinking of fun things to do.
But, yeah. And then we got the longest putt competition.
I think it was like 28ft.
Somebody sunk it this year.
For ten feet?
Yeah, for like a birdie at longest.
No, no, there's one hole. One hole.
And then we've, we've dabbled with, a shotgun hole where the entire
the entire team has a shotgun, a beer, and then you time it nice.
Yeah. That that's,
that one's optional, folks.
All right.
We thought of one where your team spreads out down
and you toss the ball, and that's your, like, a reel out.
Yeah, really? I say I throw to you, I catch. It as cool.
But if we drop it, we hit from here our first shot.
But if I catch it, go to my third dude and then the fourth guy.
You can start your first shot.
Yeah. Way ahead. So. Wow.
You got to get some soft mitts in there.
Water balloon.
I want those high school receivers I might need.
You know.
We had this guy jumps by key.
He's like, TikTok. You one. Yeah, yeah. Yes.
He he can touch 11ft.
He brought that jump the vert.
So we were testing vert on. All right.
Now you got to tell us what did you get me.
Yeah. You
do I can't even jump over a dollar bill.
I'm in the video.
I'm like hanging my head in shame, swinging and missing.
No hops whatsoever.
Yeah, I got lead, lead feet too.
So we've also had, we brought a guy out one time, has, like, a golf ball launcher
where you. Can hand it the can and. Hit and.
Yeah, and it shoots at like 300 freaking yards on a par five.
I was thinking. About doing that, too. That's a good one. Yeah.
And there's just fun ways to get people involved.
We have a whole fortune hole.
So, like, if you want to step up and play, you spin the wheel,
and it might be great, right?
It might be like you shoot from the red tees or like you get a pack of balls,
but it also might be like, oh, you have to shoot with a pitching wedge,
or you have to, you know, move back to the the tips that the furthest tee box back.
So it's, it's a whole fortune.
And we have we have good sponsors.
I think this year we were, Wentworth sponsored that or car insurance agency.
Hoffman was the sponsor.
Yeah, yeah. So it's, Gavin Wentworth.
Is. I know Ned is the one who runs it.
I'm not sure if, you know, he has a son on all of his name's Gavin and I.
Oh, great.
Great. It's the same one.
Yeah. Great guy. Yeah.
Yeah. What else do we do? That was a good one.
No, those are great. I've seen them, too.
You sit in a recliner and you have the drive from sitting down.
I've never seen that, but that's awesome.
Does that come with you the whole round?
You know, you every hole.
Oh, yeah.
We get game day, Connor from the yard goats to heckle.
And you pay him the shut up or you pay him to heckle more.
Yeah that one a popular. And shout out to game day. Connor.
He just did a, a tournament over at, tumble Brook in honor of his dad. Yep.
And, I heard it was spectacular. The dinner.
I had school that day, but I went to the after party, for the rally.
For it?
Yeah, I couldn't I'm sick.
Yeah. Like, see, you know, there's pictures of me golfing.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, but I went to the dinner after.
It was a great time. He's a great guy. I love that dude. Game day. Connor.
Podcast guests go back and check it out.
And, so good stuff.
All right. So.
Oh, this is sponsored by Sally and Bob's.
You guys get the gift cards involved.
Thank you.
Helen and Cesar.
You can gift cards to Sally and Bob's. I don't have them. But why?
Getting chocolate chip pancakes?
That's. That's dynamite.
So what's your go to at Sally and Bob?
I love I'm I'm a simple guy.
I like the two eggs, two things a bacon and some, two.
Two, two. Yeah.
The chocolate chip pancakes I swap for the chocolate chip.
You know, I pay a couple extra bucks for the chips,
but my, my girlfriend, she loves the, eggs Benedict.
Oh, yes. That's what I get. I'm the eggs Benedict.
Yeah, I mean. Benny with the hash.
Yeah, yeah. That's you. Yes.
One year I made Belize.
I introduced the class, and I'm like, hey, Mr.
Eric Feeney, bye bye bye.
My favorite food is tacos. My least favorite food?
Chocolate chip pancakes.
The whole year, Mr.
Feeney, we're going to make you eat chocolate chip pancakes.
Sure. Problem, man.
What's wrong with some chocolate?
I separate you have to separate your desserts in your breakfast.
Chocolate as a dessert pancake is a brick.
All right, now, let me add your question.
Do you have a donut every once in a while? True.
All right, come on. Case closed, your honor.
Who brought the lawyer? Who got him?
Who brought the lawyer?
So I said, and then we do. I, aspect testing.
So I will tell all the kids if you really work hard and eat the dude,
do well at the aspect testing out, eat chocolate chip pancakes.
That's all.
Dude, I, I had 20 kids bring in pancakes and I had to eat
like a little bit of each one.
Somewhere in Ziploc bag, somewhere in like, plates.
One worked at Avon Country Deli, so those were like buttery and tasty.
Melted. That was awesome.
I feel so bad for you. Horrible.
And one kid would goes this if he did.
Did you just do this for free lunch?
And I was like, well, kind of.
But I can answer pancakes.
But Sally and Bob's back to its favorite restaurant,
and there's a follow up question favorite restaurant?
Anyone in the world doesn't have to be West Hartford Beetle Tavern.
Oh, nice.
That is a crazy question.
I think right now, Savoy, I go to several times one of my favorite places to go.
Nice. They had a Tommy cutlet pizza.
Did you ever try that?
Oh, I haven't, I usually get the, the Betty Rivet as my go to.
And the salsa prieto with the hot oil,
and I'm probably saying that wrong, but I got salsa pizza pizza over here.
They say that right around.
So it's so, so proud of, All right, so you're Ashton?
No, I'm in town.
You're at beach Lou. You can eat for guests, dead
or alive, anywhere in the world, who you eat and what.
And we'll go to you next for guests.
Anyone in the world, man.
Probably throwing Larry Bird up there right away.
Yes. Gonna say, like.
One of my favorite basketball players ever.
I have a Larry Bird shrine.
Oh, I used to have a shrine in my house.
I'm gonna ask. To pray to it.
I'm gonna throw a George Washington on that list.
I think it would be interesting, but pre wooden teeth. Right?
I don't know if I can eat with that all day.
And then
who is the third one?
I got a probably my boy Tom Brady.
I know that might be controversial out there,
but he's my guy, so I'm going Brady Bird in Washington.
You get one more for oh or if you want.
Probably Eric.
Eric Feeney. Yeah let's go.
Guy. Keep the conversation. Going as.
I don't.
I during recess I throw we used to do two hand touch.
Yeah.
And the Tom Brady of recess I threw for a million yards zero
interceptions all touchdowns I put the put it on the target snap now.
Yeah.
You know just oh I'm.
On both teams I'm very fair and I'm just so.
Accurate Eric as I mentioned this. Yeah.
But I grew up across the street from Wolcott to where he threw these dimes
during recess.
And that's really my old turf.
I clocked like a good 18 years on that turf at Wolcott.
So I don't know.
I mean, I. Had my I had a little workout challenge there too.
I think I do career. On either of goals.
I, I I've, I you know, I'll admit it on on the podcast
I might have embellished my amount of wins and backyard.
But I want.
To say he had some crazy claim on how many wins he had in backyard football.
And it was so outlandishly just wrong.
I don't know, you've had you admitted you.
I mean, if you were on my team, you're winning now, is it?
You've come a long way.
So I'm glad you admitted that. I just a little bit in.
My buddy Ty Tran, board of directors, JC guy, he says Feeney
I'm the all time leading scorer at it Park
and I go on the fast way.
Take him out. Yeah, yeah.
So you're the all time leading touchdowns.
Home runs out with a walk at school. Yeah. Yeah.
Ty's got Wolcott Park scoring okay I got recess.
Touchdown.
All right. Fair enough.
I wasn't out there for recess
for guests.
Oh, I probably go Dan Hurley.
One I'm. Trying to get him on the part.
I'm all right.
I'm trying. He said he would. Danny, what are you waiting for?
Yeah. Come on, come on.
Can we give them Philly? Dude,
These are your people here, all right.
What?
Season ticket holder. Damn it.
Come on. Our events sale.
But so then I do Drew Brees on the Saints fan.
I do Mac Miller, my favorite artist.
Oh, I like Mac.
And then, honestly, I'm not on Twitter by any means, but I think I would do
Jerry Garcia just because of just the legends of of who he is.
I like it. Yeah, not George Washington.
Did you. See.
No appreciation of history here.
Mac Miller, George Washington,
did you see that line for his bobbleheads at Pirates Stadium?
When they did it?
They did bobbleheads for that.
I think a corny like Mac Miller Day.
But yeah, it was crazy.
It was lined up like five hours prior to the game.
All right, all right.
No no no no no no five.
You got to. Go. You're four.
I've always
Mister Rogers. Okay.
Love that man.
That's a wholesome.
Yeah. Right there. Yeah, yeah.
Old dirty bastard from the Wu-Tang clan.
Okay, okay.
All right. That.
Abraham Lincoln
and my wife, Nicole.
Whoa! Hey. Damn.
I'm changing.
I'm changing my mind. Lizzy.
You're in. Eric. You're out.
No, I've seen that.
I've seen a guy do that. Move on. I was like that smooth.
Yeah, I got to remember that move, I or I really meant it from the heart.
Yeah, yeah.
My wife, Afeni, I love you.
Oh, no. No. That's great.
Do you have any questions for me?
That was a good.
I like how you spun that on me. Well done, well done.
How did you guys get started?
Yeah.
So, yeah, 12 years ago now.
13 years ago now, I got my first job at West Hartford.
I was a fifth grade teacher.
Gabby Solon was in my class. Unexpectedly.
Her dad had a heart attack.
We had to do something.
I was a new dad at the time. I'm from a divorce family.
I know how it is not to see my dad every once in a while.
I could never imagine never seeing him again.
So we did GoFundMe.
We marched in the Park Road parade.
It was like a gag.
They were like the Friends of Feeney,
because the kids on a float is like a rinky dink,
trailer and,
but GoFundMe, you come to find out taxes.
The recipient takes a portion of every donation.
The following year.
I'm teaching third grade at this time, and Rashad, his dad,
gets shot and killed at a boxing event in Hartford.
So I'm like, oh, this is too much.
And I think we I called a couple of lawyers
and we worked out where we got an,
nonprofit, and we've been helping families ever since.
We just helped our 125th family and provided over $260,000.
We're now up to your half a million. Yeah. You got ten. Years. Yeah,
yeah.
That's so that's that's cool man. So yeah.
So it's it all starts somewhere, right?
And we just continue to grow.
And then I saw something about to be a good friend.
And I'm like, you know, I need, like, the friends of senior, like,
you know, we got a slogan or, you know, green is our brand of color every day.
Treat every day like Saint Patty's Day, you know, green.
Be a good friend.
I've said it a million times.
And again,
having children of my own, I want to model that where we don't have everything.
You know,
we're getting by, but we have to give back and they come to events, their help out.
So I'm so happy.
My daughters, my wife, family.
Marty's a retired teacher. You were talking about teachers earlier?
Jen is an occupational therapist at Wolcott.
So great team I.
We've been just trying to help as many families as we can.
We create a donate request form.
We're getting, like, at least
I want to say once a week someone's requesting.
There's so much tragedy and heartbreak in the world.
So we're just trying to help.
Yeah. So, yeah.
Good question. Thanks for asking. How Reza,
you know, how do you think that running this nonprofit
and working with the families who are experiencing
hardship has changed who you are as a teacher?
Oh, yeah, I noticed that, too, at school, too.
It's like I do that. They're like, come on.
I always encourage you want to be a good classmate.
You want to be a good learner, but you also want to be a good friend.
Encourage the kid to play.
That is all sitting alone at recess, or help a friend
that's struggling in a in a problem at school or a math equation.
So I always saw kid walk by trash.
I'm like, oh, can you pick that up?
Well, it's not mine. Why?
I could say, hey, we'll be a good friend and pick it up.
And then like, something triggers and registers like,
oh, so I use that a lot actually in the classroom.
Be a good friend.
And and now the kids in turn, some kid in fourth grade
was running for vice president.
Moms just sent me the video and shout out to Hudson.
My guy was like, warm my heart.
He's like the ten reasons I'm good at vice principal.
I'm going to be a good vice president for the student council of walk at school.
He's like one.
I forgot what they were, but he gets to.
Then he goes, six, seven.
I'm going to be a good friend, just like Mr.
Feeney taught me.
And I was like, oh, yeah, fourth grade.
I had him in 30.
He remembers that,
in the six seven gag is like a thing the kids do now.
I don't know if you know that trick.
You probably don't, I?
I see it on my Twitter.
I don't understand what it is.
I don't I don't see it, I see it.
I know you're talking. Yeah.
So the kid did it, but I was six seven and that got
that automatically got pop from the crowd because then the kids and then he's like,
oh, I'm being a good friend. I should just pull it up.
But a great video with. All my heart.
Number six seven I'm a good friend. You
number.
Naturally. I love to make people laugh.
Make love to number.
Last day last week I was in my honor to be the best Vice president.
Spoke at school ever had.
Vote for the 2025, 20, 26, 67.
Peace out.
I mean, it's such a great line.
And like you said before, there's yeah, how could you not get behind the.
Yeah, yeah.
Cool.
Well, speaking of my students and speaking of questions,
ready for some crazy questions?
Bring it out.
I don't know.
Crazy questions for you.
Sponsored by Luna Pizza.
Luna pizza.
Shout out like I Alex Luna pizza.
Would you rather break your leg or break your arm?
Considering I broke my arm,
I'd probably rather brave mom in my way, I guess.
Yeah.
Been there, done that three.
Times now on the arm game.
You go in arm.
What's a fourth?
Yeah, you can walk.
I'm better now.
But, you know, back in the day, I did not drink enough milk.
Let me eat some milk.
Yeah.
Would you rather eat a gummy worms sandwich or eat a Starburst taco?
I told you these were crazy.
Gummy worms. Sandwich.
Starburst taco. Nice. Nice, nice.
Oh, and then I,
knowing that you were here, I was like, hey, tell us your favorite sport.
So this kid's favorite sport is football.
All right. Do you like ice cream?
I mean, come on.
What's your favorite ice cream?
I'm like,
like, like a Reese's peanut butter ice cream.
I'm going to get specific here.
Oreo Blizzard from dairy Queen.
Oh. Two is.
It does not miss, but I'm going to get I'm going to do a little shout out here
to the best milkshakes in town.
AC Petersons and Bill Denton, who unfortunately recently passed away.
They got the best milkshakes and the shout out AC Petersons on that.
Shout out to AC Petersons from June, July and August.
They had fries of Fini on the menu. Oh, really?
You got a milkshake and a side of fries and you dip the fries in the milkshake.
And I paid money.
I went to a play house on park fundraiser, and they were like, for 100 bucks.
It's like a silent auction.
Write it down.
So if I got be.
But it's like, if you win this, you can get,
you can get a,
a menu item.
So I was like, I put in for that.
She's like, what are you doing here? Yeah, I'm literally back.
I should do that and make the offer. Isaiah Feeney AC Peters no.
Yeah it's good call.
Shout out to fries a Feeney and AC Peterson's great place and the cash for it
I know Catherine. Catherine Denton. Is she's. Awesome. She's the best.
Would you rather have a thousand fingers or a thousand toes?
I guess fingers.
I think. Fingers, yeah.
Would you rather eat only spaghetti for the rest of your life
or never be able to eat spaghetti again?
Never be able to eat spaghetti again?
I do love spaghetti.
It will be missed, but there's too many other.
Things I can't do.
Favorite sport is basketball.
Is Mr. Feeney your friend?
Mr. football is my friend.
Unless we're playing on opposite teams.
When we were playing hoops.
Yeah. I didn't know. Are you 29? 29?
I'm about to be 47.
I got chasing around a 29 year old, and I'm not well, either.
When I say chasing, I'm, like, grasping to catch up with you. You.
You mentioned Thomas being a good hooper the other day.
That guy is the king of the subliminal foul.
Just the tug on the.
Sure thing of it. He hits you with, like, one of these.
You'll be there soon, and then I'll be there soon.
When I'm playing the 18 year old.
I start do that too. Yeah.
I got a bad rap of being a hacker. Yeah.
Hey, no easy by.
It's no easy 1996 Knicks defense.
Exactly.
All right. Do you love basketball?
Yeah. What's your favorite sport?
Basketball. Basketball.
Which favorite food?
Chicken parm.
I honestly, I had no, bagels, everything.
Bagel, cream cheese.
Would you rather eat ice cream that tastes like pizza or pizza that tastes
like ice cream?
Pizza that tastes like ice cream.
I did all. That.
How old are you? 29.
Nice. Is your whole crew?
Pretty much 29. All 29.
Then I'm 30th birthday celebration for the whole crew.
That'd be a good. I know, but one. All right, there's not a lot.
There's seven of us who are turning 30.
We can't do seven. 30th birthday party. Oh, yeah.
Just do one one.
And then Brendan and Aiden, me and Cole's younger brothers are 26 and 27, 26, 27.
Nice.
If you had $10,000, what would you do with it?
Donate it, donate it.
Yeah, I don't know.
I think I want season ten.
That was that's actually not where my mind was. Yeah, yeah.
I think season tickets to the Celtics sounds pretty good.
This guy's favorite sport is golf.
Yeah. Are you guys from West Hartford?
How old are you? Got that.
Oh, okay. Good. Got that one.
Got that one.
Oh. Would you rather turn into a monkey or a pig?
A monkey. Pig.
Pigs are the smartest animals.
Very smart.
Oh, yeah, but a monkey, I if it's possible.
I'm hanging out in the trough.
Hanging out in the trough.
I'm getting dirty, dude.
All right. Yeah, I don't want to do that.
All right.
Any recommendations?
You know, books that you're reading, podcast.
Do you listen to the shows that you're watching?
New show I'm watching.
Task is is incredible.
So, yeah.
Gruffalo and Taylor Kitsch.
I believe it's on Amazon Prime. Recommend.
All right.
Actually new episode dropped today.
I gotta get out of here. Actually.
Yeah.
So I'm gonna go.
I just watched the paper on, Peacock.
Good show.
It's a spin off of The Office, which was one of my favorite shows.
I think that, podcast that I really like listening to is Ted Talks Daily.
So if people are looking
for a little inspiration in their lives, just throw that on in the car, at the gym,
whatever you're doing.
Ted talks daily, interesting conversations with people around the world.
I've done a speak up.
It's like the moth.
Matt Dicks, a teacher at my school.
Yeah, yeah. You know him, right?
Yeah. Somehow you know him from friends or something? Yeah.
Everybody talks about Mr. Dixon.
You know, you always seen with his class right outside in front of my house?
Yeah, on the rocks. So he does something called speak up.
And I told, like, four stories.
I got beat up by a guy with no arms and no legs. How?
I met my wife in college.
Knocked on the wall. We're separated by a cement wall.
And I'm like, I like you. Why don't you like me?
My pickup line. And here she is.
And just five months later, that, like she finally just gave in.
But to celebrate, I'm about to celebrate.
20 years on that move alone.
I, your friends are saying, Eric, stop banging on that wall.
It's not interesting. Then I heard about that one day.
I heard a knock. One day I'm like, oh, she came over.
Yeah, yeah, it's the IRA goes, hey, stop by all the girls.
They just called to complain.
They got a noise complaint. Yeah. You know, shut down and be quiet.
Sounds about right.
So but, so I did a couple.
I did a couple cups saying I want to do a Ted talk about maybe being a good friend.
Yeah.
Eight minute.
Is it eight minutes or. A Ted talk I'd certainly listen to.
Yeah, right.
They vary. They vary depending on what Ted stage you're on.
Because Matt has also done a one of those.
He might connect me because I again a speak up I
if you practice enough you'd be good at that too.
You should do a speaker.
You know it would be cool as if you know ted talks is like an, global thing.
They're all around the world. They do it in Europe.
But, like, what if we did, like,
a Ted talks for, like, West Hartford people, Hartford community.
Just like leaders who are in the community doing cool things.
So, yeah, I was just going.
To elaborate on that.
Let's brain I was just listening to a, remarkable story about a 7
or 16 year old who wanted to start, you know, urban farming.
I called Level International, and they have a whole farm now on,
Homestead Avenue.
And he's now doing work in Mexico and in Haiti, and he's doing
urban farming so people can get their, you know, food source locally.
Like, there are so many people doing so many incredible things right here
in our community.
So, like, friends with Feeney
being that good friend that you are, you you provide that little stage for people
to kind of promote what they're doing and remind people that there's
more that unites us and there's more good in this world than evil.
You know, that'd be cool.
To be a good friend. Ted. Talk.
We can use Ted talk.
Obviously, I've seen something to where it's like a night at the bar, but it's a,
PowerPoint.
Everyone has to come with a PowerPoint.
And PowerPoints are like 2000. Right on. Like.
But someone comes with a Ted talk.
Yeah, I like good friend talks.
And you guys could talk about ball balling.
Question
one minute I love this.
This is call I'm sure. Yeah.
That's a heart with a little basketball like, worked into it.
Yeah.
No. So. Great.
We're wrapping up.
Stick around.
We're going to be watching Lonesome Eddie.
Oh, we got some pizza quick.
You want to run over a slice? We got to show off this pizza.
This is from Patty's Patties.
Is John's mom.
Patty was a teacher.
They named their pizza after him.
This is some really good pie, right? Isn't this great pie?
It is. You could say some of. The best in West Hartford.
West Hartford is blessed with good pizza joints.
Yeah, this is right up there on the top of the list.
And and also shout out to Nick Park for the flat clouds.
Gabe's here. Oh yeah. The clouds is my favorite. Yeah.
To find out, it's everyone's favorite.
I thought I was like, oh, I like large escape.
Wow. I'm a double cloud guy.
This is the cheese.
I like this style.
Sorry. Oh, yeah. This water here.
Whoa. Brussel sprouts.
And look at that flat.
Look at that. Chris, this is John.
The owner's favorite. Might not even be on the menu.
Are we doing, are we doing, like, one out of ten?
Are we doing, like, a Portnoy review?
Listen, fractional score is only.
Look at that flop.
Is that West Hartford? Flat.
Good undercarriage.
Good undercarriage. Outside.
I was like, I'll go cheese if you guys are doing all the other ones.
What's your favorite type of pizza? Yep.
It's like. Toppings.
I like the chicken bacon ranch now.
My guy game day.
Connor put me out to that at Luna Chicken Bacon Ranch.
Or when I come here, I get this brussel sprouts and bacon again.
John put me on to this.
I like getting a suggestion and then stealing it as my own.
So thank you. John owner John, we gotta.
Remember there's people out there smarter than us.
Yeah, we just got to listen to them and then take it off.
Like delicious.
Yeah.
Well, thanks again, New Park brewery.
Thanks again, Lonesome Eddie.
I and the bird dogs. I had a wonderful time.
And we will be.
You will see future collaborations with friends opinion ball for sure.
You guys are good friends.
It truly means the world to be here for 150
day from Direct Line Media.
Still with me and he's this volunteers his time.
Great person.
Give it up for Dave again.
Do live
and then closing
remarks from you guys and then we'll say be a good friend on three.
Oh we got to score these two.
Let's score first.
Add that into your closing remark.
Eight secs.
I was gonna give it an eight eight.
Wow. Nine one on this one.
Nine is.
Brussel sprouts and. Bacon. Wow. All right.
She took
2/10 of a part.
Guilty.
Yeah. What do you got?
So they got the we. Got ball for cure.
November 29th.
And then we got a little event
at the governor's mansion to celebrate our ten years in December.
And then we start up the event calendar again in April,
and then our golf tournament,
our jam for cure tournament or concert are going to be in August of next year.
So, follow us on social media where Ball Furniture Inc, Instagram.
We do a lot of posting.
You'll hear about all of our events coming up.
And my only conclusion remark would be that,
I've had the time of my life with some of my best friends
trying to organize people to do good for other people in their community.
And I feel like when you talk to people in the nonprofit space
or just good people, they always say that they get more
from helping other people than they actually give to those people.
So, like, if you're in a similar situation where you got a good group of friends,
you got a great family like
task yourself and challenge your guys self to do something for other people.
And I promise you that you'll get more out of it than you ever receive,
than you actually give to other people.
So cheers to that.
I love it.
Yeah, I'm so happy to just be able to share this platform with you.
And then hopefully, you know, people that come to our events, people
to come to your events, can also collaborate
and just both, both of us can grow exponentially.
So, I think that, I think that's it's just been a great time.
Yeah. Cool. Check us out.
Feeney talks with friends.
It's on YouTube, Spotify, anywhere you can podcast.
Thank you again, Direct Line Media and check us out on also
friends of Feeney on Instagram, Facebook socials
and we're going to say be a good friend on 3123.
Be a good friend.
Take a load off, Feeny.
Yeah, take a load off, Feeny.
Take a load for free.
No. Thank you so much. This means the world.
Give it up for Lonesome Eddie in the bird dogs.
Yeah. So excited.
I just filmed my 150th podcast in the barrel room back here in New Park Brewery.
Take out your phones, check it out.
Feeny talks to the friends.
We had so many wonderful guests.
All thanks to Direct Line Media.
Check it out. And I also run a nonprofit.
My third grade teacher best job in the world brings me so much joy.
But sometimes there's heartbreaker. Tragedy.
Because of that, I started a nonprofit.
It's called Friends of Meaning.
We help children and families that need assistance after heartbreak or tragedy.
Also checked out to be a good friend is our motto.
So we're asking you to be a good friend and join our team.
Volunteer, support or donate.
Pick up trash that's not yours.
Hold the door, give compliments and be charitable.
You shout out, Luke Ball for a cure.
Was the Gus ball for. Your Luke friend?
And Matt Connors.
Yeah.
You heard of them?
Yeah.
You heard him here.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. So,
and then.
I'm going to let these guys go. Thank you so much.
Be a good friend.
Give it up for letting somebody in the bird dogs.
And Eddie and I go way back.
Batman and Robin.
He was the marshal of the Saint Patty's Day parade.
I was the honoree. We're forever connected.
He's my brother.
There you go. Go ahead, guys. Thank you. So much.