NFL Films Does A Drive

11/18/2023

Board Treasurer Heidi Bahnck has one of the coolest jobs around: being a senior editor at NFL Films. She initiated a book drive at NFL Flim's Mount Laurel headquarters, invited the BookSmiles crew over for a tour, and brought her team over for some sorting. Thank you Heidi, for ALL that you do!

The tour of NFL Films inspired our BookSmiles team. NFL Films was started in the early 1960s. Founder Ed Sabol loved filming his son Steve playing football. He approached the NFL with a $4000 investment for filming rights, convincing them that he could package the clips to ramp up viewership on TV. When Steve joined him, after graduating from college, the business skyrocketed. A talented, artist and athelete, Steve helped his dad transform a football game into high-energy storytelling with commentary, pizzaz, and music. NFL Films was instrumental in building the NFL into the multi-billion dollar juggernaut that it is today.

2 Comments

Richard Robbins link

9/12/2025 08:22:56 pm

What a beautiful collaboration — thanks for sharing this story. I love how Heidi Bahnck’s initiative stretched beyond just organizing a book drive to creating an experience for the BookSmiles team: the tour, the sorting, seeing how storytelling (like NFL Films does) can hook into service. It’s a powerful reminder that giving isn’t just about what we provide but also how we connect — the relationships, the inspiration, the behind-the-scenes moments that sneak precious value into something more than “just a donation.”

I was especially struck by how the history of NFL Films is woven in — that performance, storytelling, creativity and passion have long been central, both in sports media and in how people move others toward generosity. Reading this makes me think about how RobbinsAthletics approaches training: not just reps, drills, or wins, but building narratives, building commitment, community, and purpose. Thanks again for reminding us that every “drive,” whether it’s with books or football, is really about momentum and meaning.

Larry Abrams

9/12/2025 09:09:24 pm

What a thoughtful comment, Richard. I would be honored to show you the Book Bank. Contact me at [email protected]

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