Give It Away

Brooklyn, NY Skyline

 

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31 [NIV]

Compton, California is a hard-scrabble town with lots of guns, drugs and crime.  A Hollywood screenwriter named Court Crandall took a novel approach to make a difference.  He went to Compton High School and announced a free throw contest that would net the winner a scholarship for college of $40,000.  Anyone and everyone with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher could apply to be in the contest.  “I thought the free throw is a good metaphor in a world where there’s a bunch of lines that are kind of dividing us,” Crandall said afterwards.  “The focus became, how do we show the world another side of Compton, that’s more positive, beyond the stereotypical guns and crime stuff.”  He would quickly learn that the kids of Compton had something to teach him.

100 students applied – 8 were randomly chosen to participate.  A student named Allan Guei was the winner of the March 2011 contest before a packed house.  He was a member of the school’s basketball team, but landed in the event because of his academic achievements.  Allan was already headed to Cal State Northridge on a full basketball scholarship.  By the time graduation rolled around, Allan had made a momentous decision regarding his $40,000 scholarship from the hoops contest:  He was going to divide it equally among the other seven contestants.  “I’ve already been blessed so much and I know we’re living in a bad economy, so I know this money can really help my classmates.  It was the right decision.”  One of his recipients said, “Because of what he has done for us, God will bless him.  That’s what life is all about – stepping forward to help other people.”

All quotations taken from Yahoo Sports! Rivalshigh online

Day 4 of Prayer for my daughter in West Africa.

Thank you for your prayers for safety and a successful audit.