By Troy Vincent
NFL Player Engagement
When it comes to a former player staging a unique player foundation event, Matt Light has set a new NEXT standard with an annual Autumn event unlike any other.
Called the Celebrity Shoot-Out, the former Patriot presided over his ninth annual event in early October, and since he grew the clay-shooting skills event during his playing days, this year it was bigger and better than ever.
Clearly, the former offensive lineman who retired in May 2012 is devoting even more effort to elevating this event that already was widely known for its distinction of basically being a Disney-level day for outdoors lovers.
If participants don’t want to shoot a rifle in competition with Light and former teammates like Logan Mankins and celebrities like Comedian Lenny Clarke, then they can ride Kawasakis, do archery, go fly fishing, or even watch a chainsaw sculptor carve up tree trunks.
Best of all, it’s for a good cause as his foundation’s biggest fundraiser has raised $4 million since 2004 to benefit at-risk teens with academic scholarships and programs, including a camp kids attend in Light’s native Ohio.
An impressive endeavor, but no surprise for the outgoing Purdue graduate, who was always a step ahead in thinking about his NEXT life.
“Life since I left football has been phenomenal,” he exclaimed during the Oct. 8 classic fall day at Addieville East Farm in Rhode Island. “I had a lot of activities happening in my life while I was still playing the game. I went to the (Player Engagement) entrepreneurial programs at Harvard, Wharton, and Kellogg, and also started a couple of different businesses while I was playing, so for me to transition was easier.”
But there are some things he still misses.
“It’s still tough to be out of the locker room and not be able to crack a guy with a towel,” he joked, “which may sound awkward, but for us Neanderthals, it’s a lot of fun.”
Fun he could still have at this year’s Shoot-Out with current Patriots who attended, including Rob Ninkovich, Nate Solder, Steve Gregory, and Sebastian Vollmer. This helps the upbeat Light keep it, well, light.
“I’ve got four beautiful kids and I’ve got an unbelievable wife, so I’ve got a lot to be thankful for. I’ve got a foundation that works with kids from all over the country, I just launched a vodka company recently, so we are really working hard at that, and I’ve also got some other developments that we are currently working on now.”
No sitting around wondering what’s next for this three-time Super Bowl champion.
“I am extremely busy, and I think that’s what you have to be. You have to go from an (NFL) environment that’s 100 miles per hour, and very organized and very structured. You can’t just walk away from that because then you’re left twiddling your thumbs, and I see it happen to guys all the time. You have to be able to go at something with the same passion that you did when you were playing. I’ve been fortunate to be able to do that.”