WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Earlier this year, it occurred to Braden Fiske that it had been awhile since he had been back home – understandable given how hectic the preparation for, and start of, an NFL career can be.
As he brainstormed ideas for a community event in January and February, what better way to return home, he thought, than putting on an event giving back to his hometown.
To that end, the second-year Rams defensive end is looking forward to hosting his first-ever Braden Fiske Family Fun Day at Ames Field in his native Michigan City, Indiana.
The event will take place Saturday, June 28 from 1-4:30 p.m. at Ames Field in Michigan City – after he serves as the Grand Marshal for the 2025 Michigan City Patriotic Parade that same day – and feature bounce houses, dunk tanks, food trucks, raffles and more. All ages are welcome, and free school supplies will be provided to Michigan City students with a valid school ID while supplies last.
"That way it involves all the families, it involves the kids, it involves multiple demographics in the area of Michigan City," Fiske told theRams.com. "And we're still going to have a back-to-school drive, we're donating backpacks and school supplies to the kids, while also having bounce houses, vendors and food trucks and everything you can think of for families to come out. Kind of like a get-together for the entire Michigan City."
One of five finalists for the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award this past season, Fiske finished with a team-best 8.5 sacks after being selected in the second round (39th overall) out of Florida State. Before transferring to FSU, the Michigan City (Ind.) High School grad spent the first five seasons of his college career at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo.
Fiske said Michigan City "was everything" in terms of what it meant to his upbringing and how he got to where he his today, and he is thrilled with how many people back home have shown an interest in helping out with the event (those interested in volunteering can reach out to bradenfiske@gradysports.com).
"It was everything," Fiske said of what Michigan City meant to his upbringing and how he got to where he is today. "I mean, that's obviously where I grew up, that's where I played football, that's where the biggest foundations of my life were built, from youth league football and just going through middle school, high school, elementary school in that area. And I just have such a big support system back there. I mean, as soon as I put the event out, multiple people – just friends, family, people in the area that I haven't talked to in years reaching out, wanting to be a part of it and wanting to help out. So I think that just speaks volumes to how close the city is, and just the impact I'll be able to make when I go back. I think it'll be huge."
