The third annual Bottoms Up Invitational, presented by Westporters Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak, will take place this Sunday, September 15 and Monday, September 16 at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport and Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield. The concert-slash-golf-tournament benefits the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, a cause near and dear to Craig’s heart, as he lost his brother, Lawrence Meadows, to colon cancer in 2020. “While he was still alive, we had become very active with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance,” says Craig, a news anchor on NBC’s TODAY and Dateline. “It’s the country’s largest organization that advocates on behalf of folks who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, helping them find resources, supporting caregivers, and funding research.” Lawrence had asked Craig to continue to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and support the organization after he passed away, which gave Craig the idea to copy a charity concert-slash-golf-tournament his friend Darius Rucker hosts each year in Myrtle Beach. The Bottoms Up Invitational was born. This year, the concert features artists including Kristian Bush (Sugarland), Emerson Hart (Tonic), Drew Copeland (Sister Hazel), Edwin McCain (singer, songwriter, and guitarist) and Javier Colon (The Voice).
Craig and Lindsay thank guests for attending the Bottoms Up Invitational to honor the memory of Craig's brother, Lawrence.
Not only has the Bottoms Up Invitational been successful financially—over the past two years, they've raised 2.2 million dollars— but it’s also been incredibly meaningful for Craig, his wife Lindsay, and their family. “My entire family comes up from South Carolina [for the event], and we heal and we grieve together,” explains Craig. “It helps us realize: his death was not in vain. We’ve all decided to commit ourselves to this cause, not just for us, but in honor of him.” (Though Craig admits the event itself might not have been Lawrence’s cup of tea: “I say every year to his wife, he’s laughing from Heaven because he didn’t drink, he didn’t play golf, and he wouldn’t enjoy the music at the concert!” he says with a laugh.)
Darius Rucker performs at the Bottoms Up Invitational concert.
Just as important to Craig as raising funds is raising awareness. “Getting people to get the colonoscopy, or to talk about their colons and their rectums— that’s the ultimate mission,” he says. It’s not lost on him that raising awareness about colorectal cancer is very much a part of TODAY’s DNA. He recalls a recent colorectal cancer event where former TODAY host Katie Couric— who famously received a colonoscopy live on TODAY in 2000— was being honored, and in her acceptance speech she acknowledged the platform the show gave her to raise awareness. “I was there, and she was pleased— to her, it sort of signaled a passing of the baton to a new generation of advocate,” says Craig. “I think that was the first time I fully appreciated that part of the show’s legacy.”
Friends and family join Craig and Lindsay in support of the charity golf tournament to benefit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
Craig loves that Westport will be well-represented at the event. “One of the best things about our community is the circle of philanthropy that exists,” he says, citing longtime friends and sponsors like Doug Pardon and Bill Mitchell, who don’t hesitate to sign on. “That’s probably why I continue to do [the Invitational]— our community makes it easy to do good.”
To get tickets to Sunday’s concert or support the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, visit colorectalcancer.org