MEET ABUKAR, A MADNESS UPDATE AND PRIZES!
Unlike my bracket, rounds 1 and 2 of the tournament lived up to the hype! Layola Chicago and Oral Roberts, and Wisconsin destroyed by bracket. In total, I lost 3 of my final 4 teams in one weekend. MADNESS indeed!
It’s ok though, because I’m in good company! So many of us are stuck in the same place, way behind these 2 guys!
Zach Nolt and Abukar are tied for 1st place in our Bracket Challenge group!
Abukar is one of our Teen Tutors for the Safe Learning Hub. He has been working with us since the fall, tutoring, mentoring and helping neighborhood elementary students through these challenging days. Because of him and the rest of the teen tutors, 40+ elementary students are maintaining their grade levels, continuing to learn and aiming to be ready when they return to school full time (hopefully soon)!
Abukar, nearly 15, has lived in Lewiston since he was 2. His family immigrated from Kenya as refugees, landing in North Carolina before they moved north to Maine. “ I like working here. I like learning new things and helping the kids.” He is also learning leadership skills and going through a Financial Literacy program while keeping up with his own school work. “ I’m learning how to treat people and become a better person. I’m setting some goals. I want to go to graduate from high school, go to college, fix up some houses, sell them and start a business. One of my biggest goals is to buy my mom a house.”
We started MADNESS on a MISSION to create opportunities for our neighborhood teens - just like Abukar. Your support - your bracket picks - have never meant more. We believe that God has amazing plans for Abukar, his family and our neighborhoods. It’s through your generosity and support that makes all of this possible. We are so proud of the teens like Abukar and incredibly honored to be in his life.
Stay tuned - there’s more stories to come!
Thank you for joining us, giving, and making your picks count!
Grace and Peace,
Joel Furrow, Executive Director
PRIZE WINNERS!
We will be drawing random names from our Bracket Challenge Group each week. This weeks lucky winners are…
$25 GIFT CARD TO BOBA goes to Mike Mishler
Cole Zimmerman of Lititz, PA has won a new Root Cellar Hoodie!
KK Barbour of Charlottesville, VA has won our ever popular LOVE your Neighbor T-shirt!
Congrats and check back next Friday to see if you have won!
