TBE Play For A Cause 2010

The time has come ...

Four years ago, I parked my motorbike just inside the large gates of the orphanage and walked into the central room. In it, among numerous children of various ages and infirmities, sat Huy. Huy was an 18 year old young man who sat daily in a wooden highchair, his broken body unable to allow him to walk or play since birth. His mind was sharp, his personality infectiously funny, and he always had a smile on his face, even when I had to wipe porridge from his mouth because he couldn't do it himself. Money was scarce for the Phu My Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the few hours I volunteered each week impressed the nuns who ran the orphanage almost as much as the children impressed me. I can only imaging what $100 would have done for Huy and his friends.

This year you can play for your Huy - your cause. What is it that gets you up in the morning? Who have you met that has left an indelible impression on your soul? What wrong would you right if you could?

Two years ago I started this March Madness tournament pool as a way to funnel a good time into good deeds. Heifer International, played for by Sara, received $100 that year. Last year Dennis' Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation received $90.

So, I ask you for $10 - the price of a lunch at Au Bon Pain or a ticket to the movies on the weekend. Pick a cause you want to play for, and enter a bracket. No need to know anything about basketball to play and/or win. If you win, your cause gets the whole pot.

For the price of a movie ticket, you can help Huy eat something better than porridge.

See below for instructions on how to join:

The official tourney is ran through ESPN's 2010 NCAA Tournament Challenge.

1. Go to http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/en/frontpage to join.
2. If you have an account, sign in. If not, click the large red button to create one and follow the instructions.
3. After signing in (or up), create a bracket. NAME IT AFTER YOUR CHARITY/CAUSE.
4. If you aren't sure who to play for, go to this post about a site that rates different charities. It might help you decide. Or ask me!
5. After naming your bracket, click on the "My Groups" link in the middle of the page, and follow the drop down list to "Create or Join a Group."
6. Search for "TBE Play For A Cause 2010"
7. Join the group. Congrats! You are now entered into the TBE Play For A Cause 2010 pool!
8. Selection Sunday is this Sunday, March 14, 2010. The first round starts Thursday, March 18th. Please have your brackets entered before the first game on Thursday.

The $10 pool contribution can be given to me directly or through the paypal link in the top right corner of this webpage.

We will follow all the official ESPN tournament rules for scoring including tiebreakers.

Good luck! Contact me if you have any questions.