speaker-0: grew up that, you know, seen athletes that would have foundations and whatnot. And I think that it really is a a whole lot of work. It's basically kind of a another job in a way. A lot of people run these foundations and it's important to have a good team behind you. And so it's more than just what you see on social media. There's a lot that's done in the background and behind the scenes.

speaker-1: Welcome to The Giving Game, the only show where professional athletes are banned from talking about their sport. That's right. No stats, no game recaps, no media trained answers. I'm your host, Sophie Weitzel, and every episode we find out who these athletes actually are when the cameras stop rolling and the jerseys come off. We're talking untold stories, questionable life decisions, dating disasters, money, family, fame, philanthropy, and all the stuff their PR teams would probably prefer stayed off the internet. But here's the twist. Every episode is tied to a charity or cause chosen by the athlete. So while we're exposing personalities, we're also raising real money and driving measurable impact for the organizations that matter. There are only three rules on this show: no sports talk, no filters, raise as much money as possible. So if you've ever wondered what athletes are really like off the field, welcome to the giving game. Let the game begin. Alyssa and Alex Highsmith, hello, welcome to the giving game.

speaker-0: Thank you for having us. We're good to buy to be on.

speaker-1: Yes, yes. This is so fun. This is probably the only podcast ever where Alex has gone on and the host actually doesn't know anything about his football career. I only know about your guys' foundation. And that's why it's so important for me personally to have Alyssa on here as well. ⁓ because the whole purpose of the show is to kind of like pull back the curtain on what it really takes to run a foundation. And Alyssa is You know, the really the behind the scenes person as well. So thank you so much for both of you being here. But this is gonna be a really fun episode. Yeah. Can you guys tell me both what you feel is like the biggest misconception about running a nonprofit?

speaker-2: Yeah, we're super excited.

speaker-0: Shoot, I would say that, you know, I don't know, going into it, I would grew up that, you know, we've seen athletes ⁓ that would have foundations and whatnot. And I think that it really is a a whole lot of work. You know, it's basically kind of a another job in a way, you know. A lot of people run these foundations and it's important to have a good team behind you. And so it's more than just what you see on social media. There's a lot that's done in the background and behind the scenes. So I think that's something that, you know, a lot of people, you know, don't realize.

speaker-2: Yeah. G kind of going off of that, I think a lot of people just think, ⁓ you you know, football players, they got a lot of money. They just pay a lot of people to do what they want to do. And I think, you know, to a fault that is true. I think some people do just fall into that category. But I also do believe that us and then along with several others that we know that just genuinely love what they do and they wanna be involved in the process of it and making decisions and going forward and be having a say in it, not necessarily just somebody else taking their name and kind of running with it. And so I think that's kind of just a big misconception that like everyone's someone's doing everything for us. But I mean, you know, Alex is on meetings and we meet every Tuesday for the foundation and he's popping on to those meetings every week. I'm on those meetings every week. We we do have a team that helps us, but we are heavily involved in what what's happening.

speaker-1: Very, very hands-on and people may not actually think that about you guys. And what problem did you guys see collectively together where you're like, Okay, we've got to do something about this? Like this is an issue and we've got to create something that hasn't been created here.

speaker-0: Yeah. Were you just talking about like the the mission behind the foundation or

speaker-1: Yeah. Like is there something that you guys saw where you're like, ⁓ like we gotta do something. We gotta use our platform to create a change here.

speaker-0: Yeah, absolutely. I think something that is we're actually pushing out this new initiative now calling the Alex's Locker Room and it's basically gonna be able to tackle food insecurity in different schools that we partner with. So we're choosing a couple of schools to partner with to do this. ⁓ one in Pittsburgh, one in Ashley. And we're just very excited to do this because We both have a heart for student athletes. We're both athletes, you know. I play football, basketball, baseball my whole life. You know, Alyssa ran track track and field, cross country in college. She grew up playing other sports as well. So we both have a passion for student athletes and especially at the high school level, I think is so important. ⁓ because a lot of these kids deal with food insecurity. I mean, a lot of kids at high schools, you know, they qualify for free and produce lunches and so something that's important for us, I think, is to be able to provide a way for these athletes to be able to feel themselves the right way. whether that's before practice, after practice, you know, over the weekends. Some of these kids can't don't really have meals or not afforded can't afford to, you know, go out to eat on on the weekends. So I think for us this locker room is gonna be really cool, a really cool opportunity just to be able to make a daily impact in kids' lives, whether it's feel like I said, fueling them up before practice with with good with good nutrition, different hydration things we can give them as well. ⁓ having socks. The sports bra for women women athletes as well. So I think there's a lot of things that we're gonna be able to do with this. But obviously I think it'll be really cool to just make a daily impact in this way at the high schools that we're gonna work with. So we are very excited about it. You know, it's it's something that we're gonna push out this year. So I think once you can speak on it as well, but it's we're we're really excited for it.

speaker-2: Yeah, covered it.

speaker-1: Amazing. I think I my question is like, are they physical lockers? Maybe this is a dumb question, but is it an actual locker where they go to and get all this?

speaker-0: Yeah, I mean it won't be like a a ⁓ ask a fishbalocker, but it'll just be like a you know, a room basically where student athletes from all sports, you know, not just football, but you know, all sports ⁓ the schools that we partner with where they're able to come in and, you know, grab what they need. ⁓ you know, the the coaches will be able to be in there and you know, unlock, you know, we'll have it, you know, secure and whatnot, but they'll be able to go in and get what they need for the day. So it'll be a really cool, you know, thing that we're doing. So awesome.

speaker-1: And and Alyssa, well I found this out about Alyssa. Alyssa's like an actual certified nutritionist, which is super cool.

speaker-2: Yeah, I have my nutrition certificate and then I'm a nurse as well. So I I love all of that stuff. We were athletes both our whole lives and just growing up around the athletic world and especially being a female runner in college. I just saw a lot of different takes on nutrition and what it looked like to be a nutritious athlete. And I don't think it's talked about enough on what it actually means to fuel your body and fuel fuel your body well. And so I think that's just the best thing that we can do for these athletes is not only give them the resources resources to be able to do that, but also the education behind it. And so that's important to me and to him and to many of the schools that we work with. It's gonna be something that we can implement and give them the education behind what it means to fuel your body and then be able to continue that on as they go throughout their high school career and then hopefully collegiate careers. So

speaker-1: Yeah, that's amazing. And I hope that you guys are like, you know, the catalyst to something really happening in these schools. Because, you know, I say it all the time. I'll go see my kids at lunch and they'll have like Doritos and, you know, sugary juice or some you know what I mean? Like really, and the lunches really aren't healthy and nutritious. So hopefully it's your guys are like maybe open eyes to different schools and be like, ⁓ you know, th this isn't the most healthy lunch that we can have and maybe we could do something about it. Right.

speaker-2: And I think too even just making like better choices. Like sometimes these kids don't have options, right? Like this is like they're like, hey, I either have like this is what's thrown in front of me and this is all I can do. And so what like what choices can I even make that might be a little bit better compared to maybe the other option that they have? So just trying to even educate from that standpoint of being like, Hey, yeah, like you maybe could grab the apple instead of grabbing the Doritos or whatever it is or the orange cups or you know, the fruit cups or whatever. I mean, that might not be great, but it's still a better option than the other. So just even, you know, giving them those options and education on that.

speaker-1: I love it. I love it. I think one thing I wanted to ask you guys because what I've noticed with a lot of our donors and people that watch the show and are really interested in giving back, they want to know the people behind the mission. They want to know who are the high smiths, who like what do you guys believe in? Who are you at your core? Like what are your mission, your values, all the things. So I'm gonna ask you guys a couple of questions about each other and hopefully you give people a little insight about who you are. So excited. Okay. So Alyssa, I'm gonna start with you. Okay. What is something that Alex does that makes you super proud that he would probably never ever tell anyone?

speaker-2: Hmm. What's a great question? I would just have to say the way that he cares for the people around him, like he he's a very humble guy, but he also cares very deeply about the people in his life and they make that known. He is very intentional about reaching out to his friends and keeping up with them, his family, and just overall taking care of everyone. I feel like he he has taken that upon himself to do that. And so he does a great job with that. And then I mean, if this gives you a little insight of like who he is, but like the days I work at the hospital, he always like cooks me dinner. So it's like so sweet coming home and he like has dinner made for me. And so he's just very servant hearted and he does that not only in his like personal relationships, but also just to everybody around him. He's very, very personal and Always wanting to serve others really well.

speaker-1: Alex, are you the kind of guy that's had the same friend group for like fifteen years? Like those are the OG loyals.

speaker-0: Yeah, absolutely. Well yeah, most of my you know, I've couple best friends from back home and then a few from a couple from college as well. But you know, I'm someone who definitely like, you know, keeps my my group close for sure.

speaker-1: I love that. I love that. Okay. Is there any specific moment, Alyssa, that you remember when you were dating him that you were like, okay, this is the guy that I want to hang out with forever?

speaker-2: Ooh. Mm. There were so many moments. I mean, I think one like the biggest thing was when we were in college. So we were all friends. So we met through FCA Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And we were both athletes at Charlotte. And so all of our friends were kind of friends. So we always kind of hung out. So I knew him already from like a friend level. And then it kind of transitioned to this point where we were like, ⁓ I think we like each other. But I remember he asked me instead of like, a full on date. Like he asked me to go to lunch first. And I thought that was just so different than like, you know, typical other relationships where they're like just texting you and they're like, hey, let's meet up. I don't know. It just seemed he like I remember that just making such a big impression on me that like he just wanted to go get lunch and like actually like take t the time to get to know me outside of a friend level because we already have that. ⁓ but then like transitioning into like a romantic relationship. Like he wanted to just get lunch and like you know down and I mean we literally sat there for hours and just talked and like got to know one another even more on a deeper level and just our interests and all of those things. And so I think that was kind of like a big first impression from a romantic side of things that made a big impact on our relationship. So

speaker-1: It's Being friends is so like important first because it's like, man, I genuinely like hanging out with this guy. Like, you know, I love being around this dude. So I that's awesome. Okay, last one. When is Alex the happiest?

speaker-2: The happiest. he's honestly just a very happy guy in general. Like I don't think I see him he gets upset, of course, like anybody, but I feel like when he's doing what he loves, like football or just being home and doing what he loves, like video games and golfing and just anything in the outdoors. And we both love to travel. And so traveling together, I feel like he's always happy, like doing that. And Just spending time with one another and getting to do that as well. But being I mean, you talked about his friend group, but he loves being with his friends and I mean, just I love having them all together and just being at our house and their belly laughing about like the silliest things. But those are probably like the happiest, happiest moments.

speaker-1: that. Okay, Alex, you're you're in the hot seat. Okay. What what does Alyssa what's something Alyssa does behind the scenes that no one really knows about, but it makes the foundation completely possible?

speaker-0: I mean, so much. Like I said, you know, the behind the scenes work is, you know, what people don't see. But she there's some times, you know, when I can't be on a meeting because I've either got something with football or something going on. ⁓ but she intentionally, you know, makes it time every single week to be on those meetings. She does so much behind the scenes from reaching out to different people sponsorship wise to talk constantly talking with our team our team, their accordists that's their name, constantly talking with with them to s to do all the behind the scenes work with the foundation. But I know the sim that foundation would not be where it is, you know, without her. So she does so much and is like that's I'm trying to explain some of it, but there's so much that she does, you know, I can't really explain it all. ⁓ but just to see her servant heart in that way is just is just really cool. And so yeah, so just I'm very grateful for everything that she does for

speaker-1: So basically she just does everything. We're just, you know, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. But she's like, you know, kind of the would you say she's like the backbone of the foundation?

speaker-0: I would say she is, yeah, yeah. She does she does so much. So we're, you know, as a foundation.

speaker-1: Yeah. Okay. What is something that Alyssa has taught you that you will carry with you forever?

speaker-0: What is something that she has taught me that will carry with me forever? Shoot. ⁓ I would say to see the best of myself. I would say that's something that, you know, I d I feel like I do a do a good job of that, but you know, I feel like she always reminds me, you know, who I am, you know, in my in my faith, you know, that's something that's so important to us is our faith in Christ is something that's so important in our in in our lives. And so I think she's just always encouraging me to be my best self and that's something that you know I always carry with me and she's someone that always motivates me. You know, in my career, you know, in the way that I serve others, you know, she's makes me a better man every single day. So I would say that was something I would say.

speaker-1: That's sweet. Okay, I love that. What part of the foundation feels like the most like Alyssa?

speaker-0: Or part of the foundation. I would say like the nutrition fitness for sure. We know, like that's really a passion of both of ours. But no, it's like you said, she's certified in that thing. And so I think it's something that is really, you know, a passion of hers as well. So if we had to sum it up in one of our core pillars, I would say, you know, she she's all over that.

speaker-1: Yeah, I love it. I I I'm curious from both of you. Each of you obviously have a different and like special relationship with the foundation. And I'm just curious, like, what is one story from each of you that you will never forget, whether it was a kid, whether it was an experience, something where you like walk away from it and you're like, okay, this is why the foundation is so important. This is why we have to keep going and like why we have to, you know, keep going on. I'll start with Alyssa.

speaker-2: Yeah. My would have to be we've done back to school drives ever since the foundation started. And so that's been a big part of the foundation is just giving kids school supplies that they need for the school year. And then these last couple of years in Pittsburgh, we've done like a back to school bash where we've actually had the kids come in to a center. Last year we did it at Best of the Batch at ⁓ Charlie Batch's place in Pittsburgh. And we had haircuts for the kids, a meal from Chick-fil-A, they got ice cream from Millie's, they got their school supplies, they got to just like hang out and have fun. And I'll never forget a mom and a a group of kids she had. It was a grandma actually, and she was bringing in her four grandkids to come get school supplies and then hang out and whatnot. And she just said, you know, as little as this seems, like school supplies doesn't seem, you know, to somebody like me or him, like We were blessed to grow up to not have to think twice about that and have to think twice about having a backpack or a notebook or pens or pencils at school. And she said, like, you don't realize how much of an impact this makes on some of these kids. Like they don't even have new supplies. A lot of the stuff that they're getting is like used or they don't get to pick it or whatever. Like we, you know, we we we're letting them pick the color of their backpack and like what books they want to like bring with them and those things. And so I think just the freedom of that autonomy for these kids to be able to have the option to to choose something for themselves and to have something new to take into the school year, I think is something that definitely impacted me in the past with with our backpack drive.

speaker-1: What about you, Alex? Is there anything you remember specifically?

speaker-0: Yeah, I mean I would say obviously everything that we've done I think, you know, is is always memorable. But we've recently, you know, the past couple of years we've we started the General Alex Heisman Family Foundation ⁓ scholarship. And we we've done we've done a scholarship scholarships in the past. We had one the run for color race scholarship. We did like a 5K. My dad really spearheaded that. And there's one a a high school classmate of mine who was who lost her life to senseless senseless violence. And you know, we raised money for that. And so we did a scholarship for that, which is which did really well. And her family has our foundation that that runs that they still do that as well. ⁓ and then ⁓ we have a dancing grandma scholarship. My dad's mom, my my grandma Ernestine, we do basically this a scholarship for dancers at a dance a dance studio in Wilmington that my sister went to. So every year we do that and it was kind of like my dad's idea to bring that up. But I remember it was a cool moment. My grandma when I got drafted in COVID during twenty twenty. ⁓ my grandma like up she went kind of went viral on a video. I think like my my aunt my my aunt Sandy my Aunt Sandy sent it to my dad. I think my dad posted it and ⁓ went viral. She was just like up dancing, go grandma, go grandma when I got drafted. So she passed away back in twenty twenty two. And so that was kind of like a tribute to her honor. But I think These past couple of years have been really cool to be able to so basically the Alex Hash and Family Foundation Scholarship is a general scholarship that we give to graduating student athletes going to college. And we've done it mainly, you know, in the main of the ⁓ most of the winters, really all of them past couple of years have been in the Wilmington, North Carolina area where I was born and raised. And seeing the kids re so We don't just email them saying, Hey, you you've won the scholarship, like congrats. Like we actually past couple of years, like we had a great idea to actually like hop on a Zoom call with the kids themselves and and announce it to ⁓ And so like we'd be sitting there, like listen you would start like talking to ⁓ for a couple of minutes and be like, Well, if someone wants to hop on the call with you, I'd hop right in and like it'd be cool just to see like their reactions to like getting the scholarship 'cause you know a lot of these kids do need it from a financial side. But I would say that is really cool. And then this past year we did a dinner with all the winners from this year and a couple of the winners from last year. So actually getting to follow up with them and, you know, intentionally get to know them, you know, at this dinner was really cool. And just getting to know more of their story and whatnot. But that's always a really a really cool moment, you know, getting to learn these kids' stories you know, seeing their reactions to winning the scholarship. So I think that's something that, you know, we're gonna continue to to to do for a long time.

speaker-1: I love that. ⁓ my gosh. And you know, ⁓ the I did not know the Dancy Grandma video. That's hilarious. So is it actually called the Dancy Grandma Scholarship? Yeah. Yep. ⁓ my gosh, that's great.

speaker-0: That this is the name for it, so it's pretty cool.

speaker-1: That is so cool. And you know, you said something like Alyssa that kind of hit me a little bit differently. Because I mean, I've never been a person that, you know, I was always blessed in life and like, you know, I never had to want for anything. And I think that there's two different personality types. There's people that are like, you know, well, I never had to have that. I never, you know, and like if you just work hard that you don't it but then there's another type of personality that's like, hey, I have empathy for people that can't afford to do those things or you know it's not a kid's fault that they can't afford the the backpacks or the school supplies. And you know, I think it's really cool that you guys look at that and say, Yeah, we didn't have that struggle, but we can have empathy for the kids that like do have that struggle. Does that make sense? Yeah, absolutely. You know, I think that's really neat that you guys look at it like that and you don't just think, well, I guess your parents should have worked a little harder. Or you know, it's like, no, that's not your that's not your fault. Like that's ⁓ and I love that. So A big like resource for me in finding cause I don't watch football or you know, I'm like not I I kind of do, but not really. Like I don't know you guys ⁓ on that level of knowing who has foundations, but one thing I do look at is the Walter Payton. Is it Walter Payton Man or Walter Payton Man of the Year? Is that what it's called? Yes. Okay. And I saw that you were nominated for it. It was that last year?

speaker-0: Yeah, last year. So that was my first year being nominated for it. So I'm I was the nominee from from the Steelers for it.

speaker-1: So what would be like the biggest bigger flex for you? Winning that award or winning a Super Bowl? What would be more fulfilling?

speaker-0: I mean, they're they're honestly, you know, no both. I think obviously, you know, this as a as a player, you know, winning the Super Bowl is is your ultimate goal and getting to do that, that's like the the peak of of what you perform at as a player. But, you know, fulfilling wise, I think obviously, you know, that award is is so special and whatnot. But I think the reason that I do it and I think it would you know, it would be a flex, you know, you get to wear a a big patch on your on your on your jersey and everything, but I don't do what I do. for that region to win that award. Yes, it would be awesome to eventually win it, you know, ⁓ I definitely hope I can in the future. But for me, what's most fulfilling is, you know, doing the work day in and day out and not really caring about the as much about the recognition, but more about the actual impact. And so yes, it was awesome to be nominated, but you know, I do hope to win it in the future. But for me just the real fulfillment and satisfaction comes from, you know, serving those in my community. And I think that's what matters most.

speaker-1: You know what I think is so interesting about you two is I was gonna ask you a question. I was gonna be like, Alyssa, how do you keep him grounded? How do you keep you know? But it seems like it's honestly the opposite where you're so humble, Alex, that Alyssa's like, no, like gas yourself up. Like you're a great person, you know? And so it's like almost the opposite with you two, which I think is so funny.

speaker-2: Yeah. I that's honestly true. I mean, I think from a humble standpoint, for sure, he definitely is that. And sometimes I'm like, I have to remind him, I'm like, you're incredible. And like you you do so many things. And you know, I feel like a lot of times too, when people see a football player, that's all they see, right? It's a you're just a football player, you're on the field, that's all you're supposed to do. And they forget that there's an actual person besides like on the other side of that. And so I think for me, like I always try to just encourage him to just show who he is and be able to share the incredible person that he is because he does have so many other qualities than just a football player, right? Like he's not just a football player, he's an incredible person. He's a believer who loves Jesus and he loves sharing that. He loves sports outside of football and he loves doing that. He loves to cook, he loves to do like all these other things. And so I always just try to encourage him to like share that side because I think there are people that, you know, obviously just care about the football and that's it. But then you do have other people that are so encouraged and know that like, hey, like he's just like me. Like he likes to grill and hang out at his pool and play fetch with his dog and take him on walks. You know what I mean? Like like Great He likes to watch you have seat fights and play golf and you know, like that's just like normal like normal things. And so

speaker-1: Nice guy, yeah.

speaker-2: I think for me I just always try to remind him to just share more of who he is 'cause I think, you know, everyone knows he's a good football player. Like that's not a that's not a question. But just to share the man that he is, I think is super important.

speaker-1: Yeah. I think what is something that you hope, Alex, that people really take away football, right? Like it's, you know, say you weren't a football player at all. Like what is something that people you hope they leave with that impression of you? Like if they're if they see you and meet you, do you hope that they just say, Alex is like the nicest guy ever? Or what do you think that people usually say when you leave a room?

speaker-0: Yeah, I mean I just wanna walk in and know that, you know, I wherever I go, wherever whatever building, whatever place I go to, I know that, you know, God has placed me there for a reason. And, you know, my faith ⁓ in the Lord is what's most important in my life. And so for me, ⁓ that's where my identity is. You know, there's so many ups and downs in the game of football. You know, it's you're playing great. sometimes, you know, sometimes you're not not playing as great. But think for me, having that identity in in in the Lord is so important because if the game was taken away, like, you know, who would I be? And I can conf confidently say, you know, that's who I am. And, you know, in that I truly believe that, you know, he's God has really given me a servant heart to serve others. And you know, I wouldn't be known as someone who was selfless Who put others first and 'cause I think really that's what matters in the day. I forget, you know, one of my dad's favorite quotes from Jackie Robinson and always sticks on me as well. It says, A life is not important except in the impact it has on others. And I think it's so important that yes, obviously I'm gonna be the best football player I could be wanna win Super Bowls, make it to Hall of Fame, you know, get sacks every single game, be all pro every single year. But for me, you know, I know what's most fulfilling and that's, you know, making making an impact on others and using the platform that I have for good and knowing that All right, yes, like God has given me this platform, you know, for more than just football. It's for a specific reason and that's to to make an impact while I have it. So it's definitely pretty cool, you know, knowing that, you know, I've been placed where I've been placed, you know, for a reason and on assignment. And so I think that's what I want people to to really know.

speaker-1: Did you did you start the foundation like almost immediately after you got drafted? I mean, because you've had it for a few years, right?

speaker-0: Yeah, it was like back in twenty twenty one and it was like right after my record year and you know, my dad was someone who who always well growing up, you know, he was someone who always, you know, inspired me to to be able to serve, to want to serve and and to get back. And he was a big vision behind the foundation as well and helping start in that. And so having that serving heart, I think, is something for me that's like like I said, God has given that to me, but also like having two amazing parents, you know, who who raised me the right way to treat people with respect and and to serve others and treat people the right way, I think is something that you know, has really carried me ⁓ throughout the whole way and also, you know, starting the foundation and doing it the right way.

speaker-1: Did you guys obviously faith is, you know, integral, integral in your guys' relationship. And I'm wondering, did you guys find that later in life? Or did you guys both were you both raised as Christians and, you know, just connected to that faith even further in adulthood? Or yeah, how did how did your faith transform when you when you met each other?

speaker-0: Yeah, so I dig I I grew up Christian. You know, my parents we we we we go to church growing up. And that for me it was more I would just for me personally it was like I would just say that I was a Christian, but I wouldn't say I was fully living it. And really when I got to college, I got involved with FCA, Fellow Super Christian Athletes and my my first year there. And there was a core group of guys that were there in my freshman year that were freshmen like me and you know, a few of those guys are still my best friends to this day. But I remember one of my one of my close friends Jeff Gimmel, he invited me to Fellowship Christian Athletes. You know, my first week there. Like I was a walk on and I was still trying to find my place. Like I was a new guy. You know, a lot of those guys had already been there throughout summer workouts and camped and whatnot. So I was always just trying to find my place. And so, you know, having having a guy like him reach out to me was is so important. And then our team chaplain at the time, he's still a chaplain at Charlotte Ryan flower, really got connected with him and, you know, we created a l a lifelong friendship and and and brotherhood and He discipled me throughout college and so really whenever I got to college and getting involved with SCA and being around it being around like minded guys, that's when my faith became r really real to me and you know, I wanted to start living for for the Lord. So yeah, that was, you know, really my testimony in in a way. But I s I say, you know, you can speak language as well.

speaker-2: Yeah, I mean mine was a similar story as well. Grew up going to church, but I really didn't have a relationship with Jesus until I came to college. And similar I had a a teammate that she brought me to FCA and I ended up just really understanding like a difference between being like religious and then also having a relationship with Jesus and knowing that I could actually like have an intimate relationship with the creator of the universe. And I just thought that was like the coolest thing and really understanding like what it meant. To be a Christian and not just because I'm trying to be better or look better, but because like the Lord is actually transformed my heart and my life. And I've seen a difference from who I was to who I am now. And so that was kind of like my big transformation in college. And ever since then, like I I same story. I have friends from FCA that I still talk to to this day. And they're two of my closest friends. And my sister and just so many others that we've been impacted by through fellowship of Christian athletes. And Ryan actually was the one who married us, which is really cool. So I literally it's so funny, he literally will text us a picture. We used to do waffle nights at his house and he would invite over just a bunch of us student athletes and we'd make waffles and hang out and just chat. And he literally has a picture of us like before we even started dating when we were just like in that friend stage hanging out at his house with his kids and Yeah, it's just been such an incredible journey and that's obviously so important to us and for even our relationship, like that was a big standpoint when we got together of like knowing that that was our foundation and that was important to the both of us, that we wanted to live for Christ and that that's what our marriage was gonna look like. And I think that's what makes us so different, especially in this NFL world, because that's not always what you see and you know, to each their own, everyone has their own journey, but For us, we've just been able to have such a close marriage because we've kept it so God centered and been able to continue to just grow on that and keep that at the focus of it all. And it's made our marriage and our impact so much greater, I think, in my opinion.

speaker-1: How long have you guys been marrying?

speaker-0: Over four years. So very four years last month.

speaker-1: Okay, okay. I you know what it's so fascinating to me because most people, I don't want to say everybody, but most people that I know when they go to college, that's usually when their relationship kind of drifts from Christ a little bit more of like, I'm gonna go out and party and have a really good time. And you know, that's when you kind of you distance a little bit. And so I think it's kind of interesting that you both are like, no, we actually found our relationship with Christ in college and you don't hear that very often, honestly. So it's really interesting.

speaker-0: Yeah. And I think it was it was r like the community that we had is just so important because I feel like I truly with God's created us to be in community and then to not be isolated. So having that community was just like I said a huge force and you know, we do have a good community up here as well. But you know, having that foundation in college was just so important for the both of us.

speaker-1: Yeah, that's that's incredible, honestly. So I I do have a question now. I didn't even plan on asking you this because now I wanna know what how long did you guys date before you got engaged? And what did the engage like what was the proposal? I have to know because I'm a girl and I like this stuff. You did a good job. Yeah, yeah. No, I know you have to tell me. The Alyssa side

speaker-2: Yeah, yeah. We did it for a little over three years before we got engaged ⁓ before we got engaged and then a year of engagement and then got married after that. But he ⁓ how he proposed was we were he came up to Ohio, so my parents live in Cleveland area. And so he came up to Ohio to visit. And I was staying there that I was in nursing school at the time, so he came up to see me and He was like, all right, I'm gonna go do a boys' day with your dad and brother. Like you go do a girl's day with you and your mom and your sister-in-law. And I was like, What? I was like, I haven't seen you in like weeks. I was like, Yeah, we're sweating up. So I was like, All right, whatever. So we sweat up and he's like, All right, we'll do dinner later. So he took me to dinner to like this nice steakhouse in Cleveland. And then after he had this, like, my dad made he's very handy. He made this like beautiful wooden arch that looked like where they live on like. a little lake and so they had flowers all on and he had roses down down down the walkway. And then he surprised me and flew in my s like my sister, my two best friends, and then like his like immediate family and then my immediate family. And we kinda had like a big engagement party right after. So it was it was really fun and it was super sweet.

speaker-1: Day. Alex, you really set the bar high, man. Other guys are gonna hear this and be like, thanks, man. Thanks. Yeah. I love that. That's so cute though. I yeah. Do you, Alyssa, do you feel like what do you feel like differentiates you between other like wives of of an NFL player? Like I think it's really cool that you still work, first of all, but like I you know, obviously you all have a giving heart or you wouldn't do that, but is there anything that really separates you or anything that you feel like makes you a little bit different?

speaker-2: I definitely would say one, the working thing. And again, that's everyone's like own preference. Everyone kind of does their own thing and what works for them is best. And so we've been blessed to be in Pittsburgh for as long as we have. And so because of that, I've been able to work. And so I absolutely love working at the hospital. I worked full time for a couple of years and then transitioned to I'm pretty ⁓ now. So I make my own schedule, but I'm there at least once or twice a week during the year, which is really nice. ⁓ and I absolutely love what I get to do. So that is, I feel like something that's unique that you don't hear very often of girls working while the guys are playing. And then I think just too, like I I do love football. I actually genuinely do enjoy football. And he like will do will do like film study nights and he'll like show me plays and stuff like that. And I I enjoy it. Like I love watching it. I love knowing what's going on. I love getting to like watch him and just be like, ⁓ yeah, he was supposed to do that or like, ⁓ like that's not what he was supposed to do or whatever. Like I think that's what I'm

speaker-1: The you're like the coach. You're like, Alex, you didn't run that play right. Yeah.

speaker-2: Right. But I also think too, but I don't really care. Like, I feel like sometimes there can be a hierarchy in in the sports world of like because of like who your husband is, like you can kind of fall into that. And I personally just like don't care about that. I'm just like, I don't care if you're a rookie, if you're a first year, if you're a tenth year, if you're on the practice squad, if you're a starter, like that's just something I don't care about. And I just genuinely want to create a safe space for all these women to just be able to come together and just walk through this together because it's it's hard, you know, like there's some things that obviously we're extremely blessed and we are beyond grateful for the situation that we're in. But people don't talk about the girls that are moving like every month to a new team because their husband's getting cut and released and going somewhere else. And like those are just the things that are are challenging in the sport. And having to like make new friends, going to a new place and then not knowing anybody. And, you know, when are you supposed to have a date night when you have kids and you don't have a babysitter? You don't know anybody in that city. And so I think it's so challenging from that perspective with those things. And so my goal is to just I genuinely just want to be a safe space for these girls when they come here to know that they have somebody that they can rely on and that I'm like, hey sis, I got you. Like w we can walk through this together. So that's I don't know. That's my perspective on it.

speaker-1: I'm curious as what it's like to have some I mean, I don't have this problem. You may have this problem of like, do you feel like it's really hard for you to trust people's intentions when you make it to a certain level? Yes. Yeah. I I feel like I would. I think I'd be like so skeptical of like, okay, what do you want me for? What do you you know, is it cause we have money or clout or whatever? Or, you know, how do you just like put your barrier down or do you ever?

speaker-2: Yeah. I mean, I think we we try to do a very good job of discerning who we allow in and who we kind of know where to keep. I mean, I think our our goal is always to be kind and welcoming and you know, I never want to misjudge somebody and not not truly knowing their intentions. And so that's something I'm very cautious about. But I I definitely feel like we do try to do a good job of discerning and like keeping people either I always say like You know, you have your like circles. You have like your inner circle, your outer circle, and then like your outer, outer circle. And so just kind of knowing where t where to keep people and then, you know, I I've also had relationships that have progressed because I've seen like truly like what their intentions are. And then I've seen, you know, pr relationships kind of stay where they're at because I've also seen where they are. And so I think it's just, you know, having to discern that and Be wise and you know, I'm not only thinking about myself, but I'm thinking about my husband and our family and just a lot of different factors.

speaker-1: Yeah. But man, that sucks that you have to even think about that. Like so I I always feel bad for for you guys or like, you know, celebrity families, I guess, where I'm like, man, that would suck to always have to keep people at like a distance and be like, okay, what are your intentions? Are you using me for this? Or you know, and I think that a lot of people don't really talk about how hard that must be, right? Of like, you know, how do you know? And and just having that in the back of your mind at all times would I think would be pretty hard. But

speaker-2: Yeah, absolutely.

speaker-1: Back to your foundation. Okay. I have a couple questions for you guys, just like some rapid fire questions that I'm just gonna ask each of you and just go as quickly as you can. First answer that comes to your head. Okay. So, Alex, what is the biggest win of your foundation this whole throughout the years of having the foundation? The biggest win.

speaker-0: biggest win. I would say just the multiple cities that we've been able to make an impact in. You know, obviously, you I'm playing here at Pittsburgh, but to be able to give in this community back in Charlottesville, we've been at school, but also giving back to my hometown, I think is something that's so important to me 'cause I truly believe I'm supposed to give where I've been fed. And you know, nothing brings me more joy than giving back to where I I was growing up.

speaker-1: Okay. The Alyssa, what is the biggest challenge for your foundation right now?

speaker-2: think just getting our voice out there more and trying to t actually show people like what we're doing. Like we're not here to just be a a walk in the park and be like, yeah, we're just gonna wing this and kind of see what happens. Like we actually have a great platform and we have a great system and we know how we want to make an impact and where we want to make an impact. And so just continuing to increase that donor pool and that outreach is probably a big challenge at the moment and something that we want to continue to grow is just kind of creating that donor database, whether that's financially or just from a support system wise, just people that really see our vision and align with it and want to walk with us through it.

speaker-1: Love it. Okay. Alex, who is your dream partnership with your foundation? Do you get out of any partner?

speaker-0: dream partner. I mean something, you know, in in in the sports world like a big sports I would say like you talking about just like a like a if I had like a main partner.

speaker-1: Yeah, like if you had like a or a yeah, sponsor or somebody who aligns with you guys really well.

speaker-0: I think someone like Dick's Sporting Goods would be will be awesome just because, you know, they're a national brand and no we knew and they know we know we know they do grants and stuff as well. But obviously, you know, I think the stuff we be able to partner with them and we could just impact so many kids just, you know, from a sports a sports standpoint. So I think that'd be really cool having them as one of like the main questions.

speaker-1: Hear that, Dix. Here we go. And Alex wants you as a partner. Nudge nudge. Okay. If you could have a lunch with any celebrity couple, athlete couple, whoever it may be that you feel like you align with, who would it be?

speaker-0: I'd say probably I would say Tim Tebow and his wife. I think that'd be a bit boy once I know, you know, share the same beliefs in our faith, but also, you know, they have such a heart to you know I love seeing what he does with his foundation and, you know, everything they do with theirs is so awesome. So I would say that's what I would say personally, Tim Tim and his wife.

speaker-1: With that. Yeah. Would would you say that that is the foundation that you try to emulate the most as far as like their structure and how they do things? They were

speaker-2: with a little different like they're they're actually moving into like human trafficking and stuff like that very long and then they did a lot with like the special Olympics and or special needs population and all of that. So I definitely champion what they do. We definitely do something a little bit different, but I do love what they do and the scale that they do it on is definitely something that is an inspiration to us.

speaker-0: Yeah.

speaker-1: Totally. I so you said that you were a golfer. Do you guys golf together?

speaker-0: No, she's just rising the car. I try to get her into it, but she hasn't just

speaker-2: just can't do it. I can't be doing it.

speaker-1: It's I've I've like I have pro golfers that I filmed with and I'm like, Okay, you guys have to tell me like what how do I get past this whole being really bad thing? Yeah, because this is horrible for me. And like I'm competitive. I don't want to just be bad at something. They're like, ⁓ you just have to like surrender to being really bad for like a year. And I'm like, What?

speaker-0: Yeah.

speaker-2: Sure.

speaker-0: Can make so much time. Yeah.

speaker-1: I'm like, that sounds awful. Like, so yeah, I'm a cart writer as well, but there are people I'm telling you that like those golf tournaments create so much, you know, money for foundations that it's like unreal. ⁓

speaker-2: Ours is fantastic. I don't know a lick of golf. They were asking us, we were selling mulligans for the tournament. And they're like, I think one person asked us what they were and I was like, I don't know. I was like, let me ask Alex. I'm just selling them. I'm not, I'm not sure.

speaker-1: I don't know what this is. Yeah. That's it. So what I wanna leave with for today is just asking you guys really, okay, let's say somebody really doesn't have a lot of extra funds right now and they're not able to give to the Alex Highsmith Family Foundation. Is there something that's they could do that would help you guys? Like whether it's volunteering or anything that you could think of that they could help if they didn't have a lot of money, but they wanted to help. Yeah.

speaker-0: Yeah.

speaker-2: I would say definitely subscribe to our our email list. So we have newsletter that goes out quarterly. And then we also do Alex does these amazing amazing videos called Feel Up Fridays where he gives some sort of encouragement every other Friday of the month. So usually two Fridays every month, we have some sort of encouragement going out from him. And it is all based on our different pillars. But that's like something that I would definitely keep in touch with. And then we're able to share like all of our news, what we're doing, new things, past things. And then especially as we start to launch this Alex's locker looking for volunteers to help bring food, drop food off, things like that will be needed here in the future for that. And so I think just signing up on our newsletter is probably the biggest thing. And then just sharing about the foundation and what we're doing. If you love what we're doing and can't financially provide, we'd still love any sort of shout out or support because we truly believe a community is what makes this happen. And so when you have people backing you and love what you're doing, that's what makes something successful.

speaker-0: they could share it with people, you know, who do have more money who who are able to, you know, to if they see what we're doing and they really really like it and, you know, it's it's home for them, they could be able to to donate. So I think second everything that you said.

speaker-1: What about okay, if somebody gave you a hundred million dollars tomorrow, what would what would be your dream for the foundation? How would you expand it?

speaker-0: I mean, honestly, like I think it would be so cool to I haven't really thought about that. ⁓ well I think it is really cool, you know, a couple like a couple of people, you know, famous athletes that do things with their foundations. You know, Charlie Batch here in Pittsburgh, you know, he has he has his own building that he does all his work at with the foundation where kids come, you know, with their summer programs and everything. And I think that'd be something that's be really cool for us to have like our own building, you know, to be able to do the work that we can do. And then, you know, growing up, you know, I was always a big, big LeBron James fan. So seeing him when he opened his his I Promise school was like really cool. I'm like that'd be kind of cool to, you know, open some type of school like that as well. So just a couple of things.

speaker-1: That's very cool. Have you guys ever like thought about an app? Have you ever done like has anybody ever talked about that before? Like just like a nutritional app for these kids that wanna be in your program? I'm just curious. No. Okay. I was just curious if that was something you guys had ever talked about.

speaker-2: No, yeah. Yeah. That's a great idea.

speaker-0: And in that building also too, having some 'cause like how big we are with nutrition and fitness, physical fitness and with athletes having a a huge gym, you know, to to where we could be able to provide training to get, you know, who aren't available who we can't afford it and stuff. And so I think that'd be really cool ⁓ to be able to do that as well. So having a big, you know, foundation facility would be awesome.

speaker-1: Well, since you said you're a LeBron James, do you are you on the team of Lebron is the goat or Jordan is the goat?

speaker-0: Well see, it's it's it's tough, you know, 'cause I obviously like watching him, you know, my whole life, so I feel like feel like he is, but also I'm like fifty fifty with it. You know, I feel like most people aren't. But we do I'm from the same hometown as Michael Jordan and I s my dad went to college with him and I grew up, you know, a diehard Tarco fan, so it's like, you know, I that's why I weigh ⁓ both. You obviously like LeBron's my favorite that I've watched, but you know, being from Wilmington, North Carolina, ⁓ the same Hometown as as him is is is really cool. And so like I said, I'm fifty fifty.

speaker-1: That's awesome. I I will ask you guys one last question as far as if any, like if you could get one thing from this podcast, if you got one thing from what you guys are trying to say about your foundation, what do you hope that people and listeners get from this?

speaker-0: Yeah, obviously the the exposure, but just knowing that we are intentionally, you know, making an impact and that we intentionally care about what we do. ⁓ we're intentionally week in, week out, putting in the work, you know, to do on the stuff that we've done with this foundation. And I just think it's it's really unique, you know, how we've been able to go about it. And I truly believe that, you know, investing in the next generation, investing in our youth is so important, ⁓ to raise up the next generation. And so that's the reason behind why we do everything. We have our core pillars, but it's all dedicated, you know, to them, to the youth. And so I think that's something that, you know, is really just important to us that we want people to know.

speaker-2: Yeah. I mean, between us and his parents and the rest of our team that helps us like really make this foundation possible, like we are the hands and feet of it. Like we're not just out there hoping things happen or hoping things stick, but we're actively seeking out the things that our communities need and we genuinely want to make an impact exactly where that where they need it. And so if really anything one the voice behind it and truly knowing that we are really the voice behind it and we are the ones doing the work and that you're not just donating to anything but you're donating to something that's big on our hearts and we hope that's big on their hearts and they just wanna partner with us in that.

speaker-1: I love it. I think that all my listeners, you guys, I hope you hear this and hear that, you know, they really are the face of what they're doing and they really genuinely care about their mission. And if my listeners feel really compelled by this story, I'm the highsmiths, can you tell them where to go and donate?

speaker-0: Yes. Yep. Alex Lastwood Family Foundation dot org. Screen one Alex Lastwood Family Foundation, Instagram, Facebook. Click the link in the bio. So if you need to know where to go, that's where to.

speaker-1: Okay, but Awesome. Well, I appreciate you guys both so much for coming on. I know it's not easy getting two people on, so I really, really appreciate that. And, you know, I really hope that we can make an impact here and just put out the great work that you guys are doing. So I appreciate you guys both so much.

speaker-2: Thank you and thank you for letting us share. So we appreciate it.

speaker-1: Yes, of course. Thank you guys so much. We'll talk talk soon. Bye guys. And that's the giving game. If today's episode hits close to home for you, the donation link for this afford to charity will be in the description below. And if you can't donate right now, hey, that's okay too. Just do something kind for somebody today. The world needs more of that. See you next time.