MARCH MADNESS
2018 NCAA BASKETBALL POOL
March is here. NCAA basketball’s greatest week is upon us. There is no concensus powerhouse this year, so pick the upsets! You will be rewarded.
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. No rules changes, but send me your checks. Pay Pal is out.
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 over $ 80,000! 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. Check out our charities page at the top of the website.
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 haven’t before, consider this, and drop some extra cash with your entry donation!
There are NO format changes to this year’s pool, once again. NCAA basketball tournament selections and seedings will come out shortly today, March 11th. Entry into the tournament closes with the tip off of the first round games beginning Thursday morning, March 15th. For each entry, fill out the form all the way through to the finals, selecting the winner of each game. Don’t worry about the play-in games. They don’t count to the standings. Read the rules sheet!!
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% 6th --- 4%
2nd --- 20% 7th --- 3%
3rd --- 10% 8th --- 3%
4th --- 7% 9th --- 2%
5th --- 5% 10th --- 2%
Last Place --- 4%
$ 100 bonus for the place finish of the total score of the championship game
(Final score Cincinnati 74 Ohio State 72 means 146th place takes home $ 100. Ties split)
You don’t need to pick a final score, it will just happen!
Also: Bonus award again for 2018. (Judges discretion and no disputes!)
$ 100 bonus for the GOAT. (This is not greatest of all time, but rather, the person who has the worst bracket who actually tried to win, not tried to come in last place). Your name will be in lights.
The website will be 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. Additional donations may also be made out by check and sent to me directly at the above address.
2018 Charity Information
We are excited for our 22nd 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.
This year we will be donating to the 4 following organizations and funds. Please include additional donations with your entry fees or make out a separate check and mail to me.
John P. Morgan, MD
PO Box 1136
Newburgh, IN 47629
1) Lampion Center: This organization has served our Evansville community for years, helping those that need assistance through life transitions and traumas. The Lampion Center is the premier resource for affordable counseling for children, adults, and families who are experiencing trauma, life stress, relationship issues, parenting support, anxiety/depression, child behavior issues, and abuse/violence. Please visit their website to find out more information. lampioncenter.com
2) Ark Crisis Child Care Center: We are supporting the Fairy Tale Ball! This is truly an exceptional event held each year whereupon children through your generous support are sponsored to attend the ball at the country club. Gowns and dresses, horse and carriage rides, dancing, and craftFavorite princesses and storybook characters are present as well. March Madness and you have the opportunity to be a Fairy Godparent and send a child to the ball. Cost is but $25 per child. Make your additional check out to Ark Crisis Child Care Center or simply include extra money with your entry fees. See the pictures and videos by visiting the website at arkcrisis.org
3) Pals Animal Rescue: We are including this organization which is actually in Wichita, to say thank you to our many supporters over the years from Kansas! From Wichita to Kansas City, and points between, March Madness supporters hailing from this state have participated and donated generously for years. Thank you so very much!
4) March Madness Endowment Fund: Thanks to your generosity our endowed fund is now over $ 80,000. Administered through the Warrick County Community Foundation, our fund assists in providing grant monies for children and youth services in southern Indiana. Please consider an additional donation to support our ongoing endeavor. For tax deductible purposes, additional checks should be made out to the MARCH MADNESS ENDOWMENT FUND.
Please consider additional donations in addition to your tournament entry fee of $20 per entry. It’s what makes this all happen. About 80% of all our charity money comes from additional donations, as only $5 comes from the entry with the rest going to the prize pool.
Thank you!!
Please read the RULES page carefully!
Thanks again.
March Madness Charity Committee