From Super Bowl Parties to Helping the Homeless: The Inspiring Story of Meir Kalmanson

Meir Kalmanson is a 33-year-old man who has devoted his life to helping those in need, particularly the homeless. He is the founder of the charitable organization Super Soul Parties, which aims to provide homeless individuals with the opportunity to enjoy the Super Bowl, a day that is typically celebrated by those who are fortunate enough to have a warm home, a full belly, and friends and family to share it with.
In 2017, Kalmanson was on his way to a Super Bowl party when he encountered six homeless men on the street. He invited them to join him, and they accepted. They spent the day watching the game, eating burgers, and enjoying the company of one another and the other fans. Kalmanson describes the scene as “warm, exciting energy. Conversation flowed. We were on the edge of our seats. Cheering, laughing.”
The success of that first party led Kalmanson to create Super Soul Parties, which has now grown into a nationwide organization that provides thousands of homeless individuals with the opportunity to enjoy the Super Bowl each year. Kalmanson works with a network of volunteers and homeless shelters in cities around the country to organize the gatherings and transport guests on game day. Last year, more than 2,000 homeless men and women in 36 cities watched the Los Angeles Rams tame the Cincinnati Bengals. Kalmanson’s goal is to spread the celebrations to every state.
The parties have evolved since that first one. Homeless attendees now have access to new clothing and a barber, as well as mental health therapists and affordable housing organizations. Families are also welcome. In such carefree circumstances, Kalmanson says, “people are reminded who they are—and not the identity we place on them or how they label themselves.”
Ultimately, the Super Soul Parties are more than a sporting event. They’re opportunities to bring awareness to the plight of the homeless while making them feel a part of a larger community. And they have had a profound impact on the lives of those who attend. Kalmanson shares one particularly heartwarming story about a young man who saw his father on the news during a Super Soul Party in Oklahoma City. The father, who had been homeless for years, was being interviewed by a local news station. The son recognized him and was able to reconnect with him for the first time in years. Stories like these are what keep Kalmanson going and inspire him to continue his work.
Helping others is not something new for Kalmanson. As a devout Jew, he grew up in a household that lived by the Golden Rule, “helping those in need, whether it was a meal or a place to stay,” he says. “It’s the most important thing in life: Be kind, be kind, be kind.” And that is exactly what he is doing through Super Soul Parties. By providing homeless individuals with a little bit of kindness and a sense of community, he is making a big difference in their lives.