If I had to choose one photo that summed up last night’s event, it would be this:
But thankfully, I don’t have to choose just one!
I don’t know if it was the perfect weather, the delicious food, the baseball game with friends or hearing LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw speak, but SOMETHING made this night magical (ahem…and by THAT, we mean the Big Man Upstairs).
You want to talk about quieting almost 200 kids? Have Kershaw deliver a pep talk.
Clayton delivered a powerful message to the boys about perspective. He reminded them how much they are blessed, and how wonderful it is that by participating in this event they are helping THESE kids that are in need of a new school.
(Proceeds from Challenge Up 2017 go to Kershaw’s Challenge, which in turn will give it to Arise Africa to help build a school in Lusaka, Zambia). Great message. Even greater guy.
After Kershaw spoke, the kids geared up for their baseball game and sprung into action.
After the game, Clayton hung around for a Q&A session with the boys.
Does it get much better than that?
To conclude the event, Armour Up presented Kershaw’s Challenge with a check.
Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in Challenge Up 2017. You are part of something so much bigger than yourselves. Please make sure your kids know how grateful we are for their enthusiasm, great sportsmanship and for bringing the fun last night. This will go down as the BEST Challenge Up to date.
Besides you, there are SO many people to thank:
The Lord Jesus Christ for allowing us the privilege to serve others.
Ellen & Clayton Kershaw and the AMAZING Kershaw’s Challenge Team (including even the youngest members)
The Triumph Bank “Money Pit” CREW and the Aaron Graft family for donating all of the delicious barbecue for the event. These folks arrived at 7:30am and smoked meat ALL DAY LONG. No wonder kids were asking where this restaurant was!!! Thank you for your generosity!
Our faithful t-shirt sponsors:
Richard Sowden with Frontier Investment Management Company.
Trevor Kraus & Darren Schuhmacher with Dallas Pain Consultants.
Paige Sowden with Interior Resources.
Our amazing National Anthem singer, Lily Wu. Lily is a junior at HPHS and a member of Lads and Lassies choral group.
The HP baseball team and Coach Travis Yoder. These guys were awesome in the field and assisting with the kids. We can’t thank you enough for being available and for making this event so memorable.
The HP Belles!! These girls outdid themselves and did everything from selling t-shirts to serving barbecue. What would we do without you?!!!!
Our incredible photographers (Tai, Field Parsons, Michelle Horan) and videographers (Ben Stephenson, James Stephenson, Michael Linder and Jackson Farr). Your talents have blessed us all – thank you for being our historians for this special event.
Our team moms: Rebecca Montgomery, Liza Ellis, Julie Lippman, Cammie Heflin, Laura Thornton & Michelle Pletcher, Lindsay McMahon & Meridan Zerner
Our team dads: Damon Parkhurst, Jae Ellis, Patrick Moreland, Blake Anderson, Brian McFarlane, Robert McFarlane, Lee Wagner, Jay Zerner, Mac Duncan, Brian Heflin & John True
Not Just Soccer for supplying helmets for the kids!!! WE love NJS and appreciate their support!
Our incredible DeeJay, Jenny Garberding!! This lady knows how to spin.
Our announcer, Trevor Kraus. I’ll be biased if I say anything, but I think he could be the next Vin Scully.
Our awesome HP Freshman Cheerleaders, Tatum and Katherine! Thank you for making our signs and for volunteering!! Sorry I didn’t get a picture!
Our fearless leader, Will Washington. We had Will running in every single direction possible to prepare for this event. The time and effort he put into checking off all of our boxes did not go unnoticed. THANK YOU WILL!
Last but certainly not least, I’d like to thank Kathy Parkhurst and Stephanie Linder. These ladies made all of this possible and I couldn’t be more proud to work on such a wonderful team.
There’s really only one thing that matters in this life, and when I see images like this I like to think we are teaching our kids just exactly what that is.
God bless each and every one of you and we hope to see you next year for Challenge Up 2018!
The AU TEAM
I Peter 4:10
PS: For more information on how you can use YOUR gifts, talents, and/or resources to help others, please visit the challenge.