- The first Social Health Games in Lehi promoted face-to-face connections over competition.
- Organized by the Social Health Initiative, the event included games and community activities.
- Proceeds support youth programs; organizers plan to host more events to foster connections.
LEHI — Before the big rivalry game between BYU and Utah, some Utahns spent the day participating in a different kind of contest, one focused on connection over competition.
The first-ever Social Health Games took place on Friday at the Picklr Lehi, inviting people of all ages to put down their phones and build face-to-face friendships.
The free event featured pickleball, cornhole, RC cars, food trucks and giveaways, all organized by the Social Health Initiative in partnership with the Picklr Lehi and the Life Shop Foundation.
"Connection is the best medicine," said David Kozlowski, former University of Utah football player and founder of the Social Health Initiative. "All the stuff online — it doesn't matter. Talk to your family, friends, loved ones. At the end of the day, life's all about relationships."
Kozlowski, a licensed marriage and family therapist, founded the nonprofit in 2010 to address the "connection crisis." The organization's mission is to make social health — the quality of our relationships and sense of belonging — a national priority.
"We have physical health for your body, mental health for your mind, but now we're starting a whole new health system called social health," he said.
Kozlowski added that the timing of the event was intentional.
"We chose the day before the BYU-Utah game so we can show people — Democrat, Republican, BYU, Utah — you can hate the team, but you don't have to hate the person," he said.
To bring that message to life, he teamed up with Reno Mahe, a former BYU and NFL player and current co-owner of the Picklr Lehi.
"We can do a lot more together than we can apart," Mahe said.
All proceeds and donations from the Social Health Games will go toward youth and community programs aimed at strengthening relationships.
And this won't be the last one. Both Kozlowski and Mahe said they plan to host more social health events like this one, inviting even more connection and belonging.
