Beech Tree News Network

March Madness is in the air across America as basketball fans get ready to cheer on their favorite team in the NCAA Basketball Championship.
A bit closer to home March Gladness is in the air at the Cool Springs General Baptist Church.
March Gladness started four years ago as a way for the Cool Springs General Baptist Church to support the continuing work of the Boys and Girls Club of Butler County.  According to Bruce White, Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Butler County, Kathern Jennings came up with the idea for March Gladness, and it was embraced by other members of the church.
In keeping with the March Madness theme, the day features a variety of activities, mostly centered on basketball. Most notably the Hot Shots Competition where children of all ages can showcase their prowess on the basketball court. Hot Shots gives competitors in several age brackets from preschool children up to senior citizens a chance to shoot at different spots on the floor. For hoopsters aged 60 and up a free throw shooting contest is offered. Prizes will be awarded to the winner in each age group.
The day starts at 8 at the Cool Springs Church Family Life Center with an All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast. The cost of the meal is $5, and all proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club. A silent auction will go on throughout the day with a variety of gift baskets up for grabs to the winning bidders. The day ends with an All You Can Eat Spaghetti and Cobbler Dinner at 5 p.m.
Although there’s no charge for the Spaghetti and Cobbler Dinner donations are accepted and the dinner ends up being a large part of the fundraiser. Last year March Madness raised over $10,000 according to Bruce White.
A new event this year will be the Macho Man Contest. The contest was the brain child of Pastor Joe Tolbert and will feature men from the Cool Springs Church including Doug House, Josh Belcher, Mike Jennings, Bruce Jennings, and others. Each Macho Man has listed their qualifications and participants can vote for their favorite by putting donations in each contestant’s box. The contestant receiving the most monetary votes will be crowned the 2016 March Gladness Macho Man.
The Boys and Girls Club currently serves an average of 78 children per day at their main location in Morgantown, and around 25 children per day at their North Butler Elementary School location. Along with supervised activities the kids receive help with homework, and participate in other programs designed to teach life-lessons, and provide a strong foundation of academics and community service.