MARCH MADNESS
2016 NCAA BASKETBALL POOL
Our 20th Anniversary!!!
Spring has arrived with trees in bloom. Football is a distant past and the country is tired of the election circus. One thing is for certain, the country will turn to a more lively debate. Who will win the NCAA tournament this year? It appears wide open, and chances are ripe for upsets abounding.
The best three weeks of college sports, the NCAA men's basketball tournament has finally arrived!
Welcome back friends, family, prognosticators, financiers and above all else, contributors. You all know the rules and how the system works, and by God and country, what we stand for, enjoying the games, hoping for a pot of gold, and remembering those that need our help. There will be nobody on the dole in this pool. American creativity and hard work, dedidation by many, and a passion for doing right, is why we are here after all these years.
Our March Madness Endowment Fund was established in 2008. It is professionally run through the Warrick County Community Foundation and the nine county, Community Foundation Alliance. At the end of 2008, the total money in your fund was $ 4097. Currently, the fund has blossomed to a well established endeavor with assets totaling near $ 60,000! We have made several small grants over these years with the interest money allotted by alliance rules, and this will continue throughout the years regardless of whether this basketball pool continues to exist. But that to a larger extent depends on you. Money that grows is money that is given out.
Although your nominal contribution for all this fun is again a requested $ 20 (no change over many years), over 80% of all our charity money raised comes from your additional contributions. Year after year, individuals contribute from five, to several hundred dollars in additional funding. This of course continues to be the reason for our being. If you havenʼt before, consider this, and drop some extra cash with your entry donation! Mr. Gurtcheff has made it easy for you to do so. Pay Pal is here, and the charity donations can continue long after this pool has closed. And you can always write a check.
Enter the pool. See your name in lights. Tell your family and friends. Spread the word. Multiple entries are encouraged!
There are NO format changes to this yearʼs pool, once again. NCAA basketball tournament selections and seedings will come out shortly today, March 13th. Entry into the tournament closes with the tip off of the first round games beginning Thursday morning, March 17th. Happy St. Patrickʼs day! For each entry, fill out the form all the way through to the finals, selecting the winner of each game. Donʼt worry about the play-in games. They donʼt count to the standings. See the rules sheet. Read it please. We have added Pay Pal as an option. Read it carefully. You can increase your increments of donation over an additional $ 20.
In addition to our charitable contributions, this month, and this month alone, the Eli Lilly Foundation will match all money given the March Madness Endowment Fund by a factor of 50%. So for 100 dollars you give to the fund, we bank 150 dollars. Easy money. Write your check today to the March Madness Endowment Fund and send to me at the below address.
We are also listed as a charity in coordination with web.com golf tournament next month at Victoria National golf club, here in Newburgh. The PGA TOUR prides itself on giving back to the communities in which its events are held. And the United Leasing Championship is proud to be a part of this charitable tradition. Qualifying charities in our community will have the opportunity to raise money through the Old National Bank Golf Gives Back program.
Hereʼs how it works: Qualifying charities will help promote online ticket sales to the United Leasing Championship. As part of the transaction, purchasers will choose a charity to receive
the net proceeds of their ticket purchase. After the tournament, the designated funds will be distributed to the participating charities. What could be easier?!
In addition, participating charities have the chance to share in additional dollars donated by Old National Bank, the tournamentʼs sponsor of Golf Gives Back. The Golf Gives Back program is an incredible opportunity for nonprofit organizations to raise money with no risk or investment. Buy your week long pass to the tournament on line ($ 35) and designate on the drop down box for which charity you wish to donate to. Click on March Madness Endowment Fund. Every dollar of your ticket price comes back to us! Go to ULCGOLF.com
Click the red box at the top, BUY TICKETS, select the number of tickets you wish to buy, fill out the information, and the bottom of that screen, it says charity donation, select one. Click on March Madness Endowment Fund. The money will come back to us!
Important Tournament Pool information
Each entry donation is $20 (twenty dollars). $5 (five dollars) of every fee will be donated to charity. . Again,we encourage you to make an additional contribution, (as the majority of you so kindly do). Remember any additional moneys donated qualify as a tax-deduction, so if you desire proof of such, you may also enclose a separate check made out to one of the charities listed below. I will forward the check (as is) with the rest of the donations. Otherwise, simply make out your check to me, and Mail all checks and additional donations to:
John P. Morgan, MD PO Box 1136 Newburgh, IN 47629
The remainder of the pool will be distributed to the winners as follows:
1st --- 40%
2nd --- 20%
3rd --- 10%
4th --- 7%
5th --- 5%
6th --- 4%
7th --- 3%
8th --- 3%
9th --- 2%
10th --- 2%
Last Place --- 4%
$ 100 bonus for the place finish of the total score of the championship game
(Final score Indiana 82 Kentucky 79 means 161st place takes home $ 100. Ties split) You donʼt need to pick a final score, it will just happen!
Also: Bonus award again for 2015. (Judges discretion and no disputes!)
$ 100 bonus for the GOAT. He (or she) who has the worst bracket who actually tried to win, not
tried to come in last place). Your name will be once again in lights!
The website has been updated. (Annual thanks goes to Gary Gurtcheff, our webmaster.) Additionally, we will maintain an index page for you to review rules, interim letters, charity information, periodic updates, and other items of interest, in addition to the standings. We hope you will take the time to peruse the site. Please especially review our charity page.
2015 Charity Information
We are excited for our 20th anniversary and below are the following charities we plan to donate to this year. Every year it has been different regarding the named charities. The endowment fund lives on. In addition to your pool entry fees, you may certainly (and we encourage you to) send a separate check made out directly to the charity of your choice, and forward to John P Morgan at the following address:
John P. Morgan PO Box 1136 Newburgh, IN 47629-1136
You may additionally donate via Pay Pal and we will forward the money directly to the charity of your choice after the tournament and the accounting concludes. Please consider making a nice contribution to one of the following charities. It is our 20th Anniversary of this rite of spring, and we hope to raise the most money of all time. Please be generous.
March Madness Endowment Fund
Started several years ago by us, our endowed fund benefits youth and children?s services in our local area. The fund is administered through the Warrick County Community Foundation. To date we have now accumulated nearly $ 60,000 in this fund, for which the principal is never depleted. We have a few thousand dollars each year to contribute to organizationsofourchoice,outsideofthistournament. Asthefundcontinuestogrow,the amount we get to give away each year, grows as well. This is our passion, and to eventually grow this fund to over $ 100,000 and beyond! A 1:2 matching donation from the Eli Lilly Foundation will be made for all checks received this month, and this month alone.
Mended Little Hearts
Chartered in 2004, this is a support program for parents and caregivers of children with heart defects and heart disease. They offer resources and a support network for families. Currently there are 69 community support groups in 25 states. They additionally raise awareness of congenital heart defects. Amongst many other things, we relate to providing tote bags, including a blanket, teddy bear, and a gift card to cover some of family costs while at the hospital. For further information, go to www.mendedlittlehearts.org or www.mendedlittleheartsevv.org
Castle Band Program Fund
Additionally like our March Madness Endowment Fund, this fund is administered through the Warrick County Community Foundation. The fund provides an annual gift to be distributed to one or more deserving band students each year for assistance to satisfy band fees, instrument rental, special event, or other participation costs. The scholarships go to band members whose families are otherwise unable to pay for fees and costs.
Helping Hands Educational Fund
This is a fund out of San Antonio, Texas, founded by Dr. David Green, fellowship founder, teacher, and nationally recognized hand surgeon. “Helping Hands”. I feel a debt of gratitude for his accepting some young unknown, hailing from Ohio, 21 years ago to pursue an amazing education.This educational fund has granted $ 200,000 over the past several years. This also is an endowed fund to assist homeless or at risk to be homeless individuals who are trying to put their lives back together and become contributing members of society. There is a misconception that all “homeless” people are drug addicts or alcoholics, when in fact the largest percentage of homeless today are single parents struggling to hold down a job, go to school, and take care of kids. Other major causes of homelessness are sickness, accidents, job loss, divorce, or other unexpected events. Children comprise a significant percentage of the homeless population. Funds are disbursed through San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries and Haven for Hope. The fund itself is the only means of raising money for education, critical in transforming people back to productive citizenship. For further information, go to the website, www.helpinghandsfund.com
Mattingly Charities
Founded by Evansville?s own and baseball great, Don Mattingly, this organization was created to serve underprivileged youth by supporting programs which promote baseball and softball participation in conjunction with other developmentally related activities. Earmarking the Highland Baseball Club Challenger program, donations made will benefit this division, allowing “baseball for everyone”, to include those with special needs and physical disabilities, For more information, we refer you to