July 16, 2025 • 4 mins
Karen Sadler with the Michael Sadler Foundation joins us to discuss the Michael Sadler Legacy Celebration - an event coming up that will help empower today's game changers to become tomorrow's leaders.
More information can be found here: https://www.michaelsadlerfoundation.org/
More information can be found here: https://www.michaelsadlerfoundation.org/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Big event on Sunday for the Michael Sadler Foundation. We've
talked about this over the years. This is West Michigan's
Morning News, Steve Kelly and Laurence Smith. Karen Sadler is
in studio this morning. Thank you so much for coming
in today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Thanks for having me. Steve.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Though the foundation has a green and white feel, what
you guys do is for everybody, before we get to
the event that's coming up on Sunday, the important work
that you're doing as a mom, Karen tell us what
was it about the life of Michael that, all these
years later has led to a foundation that gets bigger
(00:38):
and better every year to impact young people's minds.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
In one word, Steve, it's legacy. He worked really hard
to create a legacy that is lasting, that is impressionable,
that is making a difference still in people's lives.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It's amazing parents grieve in different ways. You folks put
that into action and are making a difference year in
and year out. So what does the foundation do for
those that don't know?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
So our biggest program is called Game Changers, and it
is a program that we share. We teach high school
kids how to deliver the program to younger kids. So
it's a mentoring program about learning to build a legacy
at an early age.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Amazing, and the event on Sunday is something that everybody
can go to and be a part of.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Absolutely. Yeah, the Legacy Celebration is getting bigger each year.
We expect between three hundred and fifty and four hundred
people this year we close down the sidewalk. It's just
a fun event that's family oriented and we are so
excited to bring it back to Grand Rapts again.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
It's really phenomenal. And speaking as a parent myself, when
you say things about a legacy, your future, and then
you're talking about kids learning from someone older than them,
that mentor that person that they look up to, it's
just cool, right, Us as parents can't always deliver that
message or put that into action, but you guys have
figured out how to do this in such a successful
(02:09):
and passionate way.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, it's pretty amazing, Lauren, because these high school kids
walk in and it's almost like they have a cape
on their back, you know, and the little kids just
look up to them, they adore them, they listen to them,
and it's just a better transfer of information, right, And
really it's the older kids. I think that maybe even
gain more than the younger kids, because you can't teach
(02:32):
it if you don't know it right. If you're going
to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.
And that's what we preach when we're training these kids
to deliver the program, and they do. They live it,
and it's amazing to see that growth and how they
become more adept and more ready for the next stages
of their lives.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
The event is the ninth annual Legacy Celebration. It's at
Atwater Brewery in downtown Grand Rapids. Gets on your underwent
at twelve noon and it runs until three. Gosh, I
hope we can get there. Talk to us about I
know there are some surprises, and though I've heard a
couple of interviews that you've done, people are trying to
get you to reveal the surprise. I'd be in big trouble.
(03:15):
There's enough without him. So what can folks that come
out expect to see?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Well, I hope you can get down there too. We'd
love to have you.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
We have.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's such a great event because it's filled with fun.
We have the Spartan Marching band coming over. We have
the cheerleaders coming over from Lansing. We have Sparti himself.
We have Zeke the Wonder Dog. Oh yeah, we have
Pronto pups coming in. Every paid admission has two Pronto
Pups with it. Also two beers courtesy of Atwater Brewery.
(03:47):
I'm super excited about that we have brand new souvenir
glasses this year that Mike would be really proud of.
Mike liked a bourbon once in a while and these
are nice rocks glasses, so I can't say any more
about those, but you'll see when you come. We have
new Zeke and Mike magnets. It's just so much fun
with the places loaded with balloons and fun and food,
(04:09):
and you just need to come down. Really, we encourage you,
please be my guests. Come.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
I'm sure you waited as a parent till Mike was
twenty one, but absolutely, thanks for another conversation. Absolutely, it
is an inspirational foundation and something that you need to
find out more information about. We'll put the link in
the podcast section atwoodradio dot com to the Michael Sadler
Foundation and to the event at Water on Sunday as well.
(04:35):
Mom Karen Sadler, you guys are just awesome. Thank you
for your inspiration to us parents all over the place,
and for the work that's being done in Mike's honor
year in a year out. You're welcome anytime.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Thank you so much, Steven, Laura appreciate it.
Big event on Sunday for the Michael Sadler Foundation. We've
talked about this over the years. This is West Michigan's
Morning News, Steve Kelly and Laurence Smith. Karen Sadler is
in studio this morning. Thank you so much for coming
in today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Thanks for having me. Steve.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Though the foundation has a green and white feel, what
you guys do is for everybody, before we get to
the event that's coming up on Sunday, the important work
that you're doing as a mom, Karen tell us what
was it about the life of Michael that, all these
years later has led to a foundation that gets bigger
(00:38):
and better every year to impact young people's minds.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
In one word, Steve, it's legacy. He worked really hard
to create a legacy that is lasting, that is impressionable,
that is making a difference still in people's lives.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
It's amazing parents grieve in different ways. You folks put
that into action and are making a difference year in
and year out. So what does the foundation do for
those that don't know?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
So our biggest program is called Game Changers, and it
is a program that we share. We teach high school
kids how to deliver the program to younger kids. So
it's a mentoring program about learning to build a legacy
at an early age.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Amazing, and the event on Sunday is something that everybody
can go to and be a part of.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Absolutely. Yeah, the Legacy Celebration is getting bigger each year.
We expect between three hundred and fifty and four hundred
people this year we close down the sidewalk. It's just
a fun event that's family oriented and we are so
excited to bring it back to Grand Rapts again.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
It's really phenomenal. And speaking as a parent myself, when
you say things about a legacy, your future, and then
you're talking about kids learning from someone older than them,
that mentor that person that they look up to, it's
just cool, right, Us as parents can't always deliver that
message or put that into action, but you guys have
figured out how to do this in such a successful
(02:09):
and passionate way.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, it's pretty amazing, Lauren, because these high school kids
walk in and it's almost like they have a cape
on their back, you know, and the little kids just
look up to them, they adore them, they listen to them,
and it's just a better transfer of information, right, And
really it's the older kids. I think that maybe even
gain more than the younger kids, because you can't teach
(02:32):
it if you don't know it right. If you're going
to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.
And that's what we preach when we're training these kids
to deliver the program, and they do. They live it,
and it's amazing to see that growth and how they
become more adept and more ready for the next stages
of their lives.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
The event is the ninth annual Legacy Celebration. It's at
Atwater Brewery in downtown Grand Rapids. Gets on your underwent
at twelve noon and it runs until three. Gosh, I
hope we can get there. Talk to us about I
know there are some surprises, and though I've heard a
couple of interviews that you've done, people are trying to
get you to reveal the surprise. I'd be in big trouble.
(03:15):
There's enough without him. So what can folks that come
out expect to see?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Well, I hope you can get down there too. We'd
love to have you.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
We have.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
It's such a great event because it's filled with fun.
We have the Spartan Marching band coming over. We have
the cheerleaders coming over from Lansing. We have Sparti himself.
We have Zeke the Wonder Dog. Oh yeah, we have
Pronto pups coming in. Every paid admission has two Pronto
Pups with it. Also two beers courtesy of Atwater Brewery.
(03:47):
I'm super excited about that we have brand new souvenir
glasses this year that Mike would be really proud of.
Mike liked a bourbon once in a while and these
are nice rocks glasses, so I can't say any more
about those, but you'll see when you come. We have
new Zeke and Mike magnets. It's just so much fun
with the places loaded with balloons and fun and food,
(04:09):
and you just need to come down. Really, we encourage you,
please be my guests. Come.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
I'm sure you waited as a parent till Mike was
twenty one, but absolutely, thanks for another conversation. Absolutely, it
is an inspirational foundation and something that you need to
find out more information about. We'll put the link in
the podcast section atwoodradio dot com to the Michael Sadler
Foundation and to the event at Water on Sunday as well.
(04:35):
Mom Karen Sadler, you guys are just awesome. Thank you
for your inspiration to us parents all over the place,
and for the work that's being done in Mike's honor
year in a year out. You're welcome anytime.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Thank you so much, Steven, Laura appreciate it.
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