Meet Mlaz and the 2021 MADNESS Winners!
Check our MADNESS on a MISSION Bracket rankings! Click here for the full standings.
Congrats to the 2021 MADNESS on a MISSION Champion, EASTON DUNDORE of Lewiston, Maine! Easton and his siblings volunteer regularly at The Root Cellar, so he will have plenty of opportunities to gloat - especially since my bracket came in 48th. He came from way back to prevent Zach Nolt from becoming a 2 time champ (huge thanks to Easton for that, because Zach would have been insufferable around here).
Mark Jones of Richmond, Maine is our Runner-Up and Aaron Skinner of Atlanta, GA comes in 3rd!
All three of our winners picked Baylor for the win - a gutsy move to go against the favored Gonzaga that paid off in the end!
Easton get’s his choice of 2 prizes: a jersey of his choice - from any team in any sport or a $200 Amazon Gift Card! Second place will receive the remains prize.
Third place will take home Maine themed Prize Package - and it’s sure to include a few Maine Whoopie Pies and some pure Maple Syrup!
My bracket was done pretty early in the tournament, but my 8 year old daughter Anna stayed in it till the end, finishing in 7th place! I think I need let her pick my bracket next year.
Keep reading to learn the real reason why this Bracket Challenge is different - and how your picks matter way beyond the basketball court!
Meet Mlaz!
This week, we want to introduce you to another neighborhood teen that has been a huge part of our work throughout the pandemic and has benefited from our Youth Work Experience programs.
Mlaz is an 18 year old Senior at Portland High School. She was born in New Jersey after her parents left Sudan as refugees. When she was 3 years old, her parents and 3 siblings moved to the Kennedy Park community in Portland, just down the street from our site in Portland.
This past school year, Mlaz has worked with Sean Noe and Christine Ming as a tutor in the Safe Learning Hub, providing remote learning for more than 40 East End Elementary Students each week! She says that she loves interacting with the kids, helping them with homework. She finds purpose in her work, “Without this place, these kids wouldn’t get the help they need.”
She’s also learned how to respond to the kids each day and offered some great advice. “You need patience to help the kids stay focused on their work. Patience and fun - we have to make learning fun.”
Mlaz has some big plans after she graduates from Portland High School, and it won’t surprise you to know that she wants to continue to help people in need. “I want to be Psychology major, so that I can become a therapist or a counselor. I want to learn about people and help them,” says Mlaz. She hopes to attend the University of Maine in the fall.
Remote learning has been very challenging for high school students in Portland. Mlaz has noticed that staying busy, working that in the Learning Hub has had a great impact on her ability to stay on track. “It’s put me back on schedule,” she says.
It’s been an incredibly tough year for students like Mlaz, but she has found ways to stay on track, serve others, and love her neighbors. We are so proud of you, Mlaz!
This isn’t your normal Bracket Challenge - and that is thanks to each of you. Each year, we set a fundraising goal and each year you step up in a huge way. Your generosity makes the MADNESS of March more meaningful than anything that happens on the basketball court. Thanks to you, teens across Lewiston and Portland have opportunities to learn, grow and discover the blessings of serving and loving their neighbors.
If you would like to continue to support teens like Mlaz, Mustafa or Abukar, please consider becoming a Monthly Partner. This allows us to plan, respond quickly to needs and expand opportunities for these amazing teens!
Thank you for joining us for MADNESS on a MISSION 2021!
If you really enjoy this event and would like to help us plan for 2022, let us know! Shoot me an email at joel@therootcellar.org.
