2014 Winners!

Congrats to the Huskies and to our players ranked in top 10 (some ties).

Leading the way....Mike Walker!

Then Jenn Martin (2), Robert Butler, Franklin Bennett, Cho Wallace (that's Steven), Josh Large, Charity Wallace, Cortany Kersey, Toni Brandt (2) aka Hunter, Brent High, Johnny Walton, Travis Garner (1&2).

Those are the lucky ones making the best picks. Wallaces and Garners appeared twice in top 10 and there's several youngsters in the top 10 including one Martin daughter (not sure which one) Josh Large and Hunter Brandt.

And who really wins? Carmen and Rosemary, of course! We have enough pool proceeds to sponsor them for another year including their birthday and Christmas gifts.

If you still need to make your donation, please get to us by the this weekend as we'll send the money off to SCORE. There is a paypal donate button to the right.

Thanks again for helping take care of these children with us!

Stephanie and Jay

Selection Sunday 2014

Make March Madness matter again this year by playing our 5th Annual Hope through Hoops bracket pool: 100% of the proceeds go to orphan sponsorships in the Dominican Republic. We hope to continue sponsoring Carmen and Rosemary again this year through SCORE International based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. All the details and the simple rules are included at the top of this blog.

Even if your team's not dancing, then just pick teams for fun or just donate minimum $10 and show your support of these children who need you! Yes, they need us. It takes about 40 bracket entries to sponsor an orphan for a year. Enter as many brackets as you'd like and please forward this message to your family, friends, FB friends,Tweet, Retweet etc.

As many of you know, Cristina our teenager from the Dominican Republic is an orphan. We first used this March Madness pool's proceeds five years ago to sponsor her. Through struggle, obedience, and faith, she's thriving now and lives with us here in Nashville as she pursues her education at Lipscomb Academy.  God is good and amazing!

In Cristina's honor and knowing first-hand all the orphans in the Dominican Republic that need us all,  we pray you'll join us again this year.

Carmen

Rosemary

We did it!

Hope Through Hoops Bracket Busters (well, most of us!),

On my CBS message board post last week, I was giving Andy Mankin too much credit.

It wasn't Andy Mankin afterall who picked Michigan. It was actually the young Max Mankin I was so informed. Unfortunately, Max is probably a little down this morning in the halls of 4th grade. One, because Michigan didn't pull it out; and secondly, we have to wait until next year for March Madness and obsessive bracket scrutiny. 

Nevertheless, Mrs. Amy Boyter came from the depths of the standings to take the lead followed by Beth Gilliam and Carrie Thompson. Wow!!! I can't wait to tell the young Willie Walton that 3 women dominated the brackets this year. (Fun note: Amy is our friend who is working on The Jesus Film with CRU, fomerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ).

The great news is that we have enough collected enough together to sponsor 2 orphan girls for the whole year PLUS birthday gifts. Any additional fees that come in this week will go toward their Christmas gifts. Please send any owed donations this week and I will submit to funds to SCORE by Monday, April 15th.

This year, we are sponsoring Carmen (17 years old) and Rosemery (2 years old) from Pasitos de Jesus in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.
http://www.scoreintl.org/ministry/pasitos-de-jesus/

My heart is singing right now looking at their precious faces and knowing the difference we are making together.

Thanks for playing and we look forward to your playing again next year!

Meet Rosemery and Carmen!

Selection Sunday-2013!

Everyone,

Make March Madness matter AGAIN by playing our 4th Annual Hope through Hoops bracket pool---100% of the proceeds go to orphan sponsorships in the Dominican Republic. We will be sponsoring through a new orphanage this year still in the DR. The orrphanage is run by SCORE International based in Chattanooga, TN.  All the details and the simple rules are included just above.

Even if you don't really care about college basketball, then just pick teams for fun or just donate minimum $10 and show your support of these children who need you! Yes, they need us. It takes about 40 bracket entries to sponsor an orphan for a year. Enter as many brackets as you'd like and please forward this message to your family, friends, FB friends,Tweet, Retweet etc.

So simple.... all while we huddle around HDTVs and track the games on our smartphones.....this is the pool to play to make March Madness matter!   We use the CBS bracket manager. See details above to get started.

Thanks,
Stephanie and Jay

P.S. Thank you for all of your prayers for Cristina over this last year. Did you know? Cristina was the first orphan we sponsored when we started this bracket challenge in 2010. Now, she lives with us as she progresses in her studies and now knows the love of a family.  As many of you know, she is thriving socially, academically and even playing softball on her first-ever organized sports team. Most importantly, her faith is strong as the Lord has continued to provide for her life. Thank to all of our family, friends, faith communities for walking along side us and encouraging her.

2 sponsorships!

Everyone,

I talked to SCORE International this morning. We have enough for 2 sponsorships---we should end up close to $800.We will continue to sponsor the teenager (one of Cristina's friends for those of you who know our Cristina) we sponsored and they are identifying a younger child to add to our sponsorships. I'll be sending your money early next week, if you still want to contribute please give me/Jay a check by Monday made out to SCORE International or send your donation ($10 minimum) to my paypal account. You will find the DONATE button on the right.

As soon as names are verified, I'll add some pictures.

Thanks!

2012 Winner!

Congrats to my KY firiends.....but most importantly thanks to all of you!We have at least 2 annual orphan sponsorships lined up through SCORE International with your entry fees and donations.1) The first sponsorship is in Tim HIckman's name (musical master, math whiz and husband one of my favorite ladies in the world, Laura)2) The 2nd is Master Houston High. Yes, this 4th grader just whipped you here and probably could in basketball and baseball too. We will all collectively sponsor 2 orphans in Tim and Houtson's names for a year. I'll send you a picture when they release a picture that I can put on the Hope through Hoops blog. Taking care of these children is an eternal Shining Moment!Thanks for playing and please join us again next year.

Make March Madness Matter!

Are you ready for March Madness?!? I can say for sure our 8 year old is!

Hope you all will play our bracket pool with us again this year! This is the perfect pool to play because we're "ALL winners" since 100% of proceeds goes to sponsor an orphan's basic needs in the Dominican Republic (through SCORE International) for a year! For every 40 entries, we can sponsor 1 orphan. So if we all do 2 entries, we can sponsor 2 orphans. If we all do 2 entries, and invite 1 new player, we can sponsor 3....the math is easy I know...the NEED is the point.

I marked my 4th trip to the Dominican Republic--making 2 trips in 2011. Guess where I keep going in that beautiful country? No, I didn't even go the beach last time. I keep going to the same Orfanto!! There's not one day that goes by that our hearts aren't breaking for these girls.

Collectively, we're all sponsoring 3 girls now and we need to keep it going. (Two are now permanently sponsored with dedicated sponsors from our group). So we need your help to keep up the sponsorships.

Play our bracket pool this year for $10 and complete as many brackets as you want!!

Make March Madness 2012 Matter for the glory of God!

Follow the simple instructions at the top of blog.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Stephanie