{Photo by Angela Taylor}
By Jill Fox
For the third time this year, a group of Parkland and Coral Springs girls spent Thanksgiving morning on the football field giving back.
The Girls Turkey Bowl was created in 2019 by four Parkland dads who coached their daughters’ flag football teams: Scott Backman, Adam Goldman, Bryan Krul, and Danny Levine.
Four teams made up of fifth through ninth-grade girls participated in the event, raising money for #LivelikeEmma, a foundation created in honor of Emma Sorensen, who passed away from brain cancer at the age of 13 in January 2020.
Each year, they use this event to donate much-needed items to Joe DiMaggio Children’s hospital, where Emma spent 500 days.
“Last year, we donated blankets and PJs because that’s what the hospital needed, and this year, they asked for legos and socks,” said Emma’s best friend, Morgan Goldman.
Todd Link, Adam Goldman, Mike and Kelly Sorensen, Bryan Krul, and Danny Levine. {Photo by Honey Backman}
A sophomore at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Morgan, 15, who has played football for four years, coached the “Emma’s Sparkle” team of girls with Rebecca Stember, also 15.
“Being the third year of the event, some of the girls have outgrown the league and are coming back to coach the next generation,” said Morgan’s father and turkey bowl co-founder, Adam Goldman.
Madison Sentz, Cayla Backman, Ava Krul, and Joie Levine bring in food donated by Manhattan Bagel for the event. {Photo by Adam Goldman}
This year, the theme for the Turkey Bowl was “Lego blocks & comfy socks,” which will be donated to patients in Emma’s name “to spread her sparkle to others who still need it.”
Morgan said just being able to coach the team and watch the smiles on the girls’ faces and see Emma’s parents on the sideline meant so much to her.
Emma’s family started the #LiveLikeEmma Foundation to remember Emma and her values and help give back to a community that was so giving to them.
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