PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, APRIL 12, 2019
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
Keizer athletes planning
trip to Dominican Republic
istry.”
BY MATT RAWLINGS
McAvoy has been involved
Of the Keizertimes
Marc McAvoy, who is a be- with SCORE International
havioral specialist at Claggett for many years and has gone
Creek Middle School, has been on mission trips with close to a
working in the Salem-Keizer dozen organizations. But this is
School District for nearly three the fi rst time he has taken a trip
with his players.
decades.
“Quite frankly, I was never
During that time McAvoy
has also coached a number of planning on taking a freshmen
different sports in the Keizer group to do something like this.
community — he currently is But this group is mature beyond
the freshman boys basketball their years,” McAvoy said. “I feel
like the Lord
coach and the
really put this
boys
varsity
on my path.”
tennis coach at
During the
McNary High
trip, the Keiz-
School.
er crew will
But
this
be going to a
season, he felt
number of dif-
a special con-
ferent cities to
nection with
host basketball
his basketball
— Marc McAvoy
clinics, as well
squad.
as provide food
“This year’s
and prayer to
group
was
people in pov-
unique in the
erty.
sense that they
They also
were all great
plan attend-
friends
and
ing multiple
they all really
orphanages
liked each oth-
to spend time
er,” McAvoy
with kids.
said. “They’re
“ We ’r e
a group that
defi nitely ex-
would
get
knocked off their feet and cited, but also a little bit ner-
would get up and try even hard- vous,” McNary freshman Jaden
Rhines said. “But we recognize
er.”
“I just had a group of kids how special this is and how not
everyone gets this opportunity.”
that were phenomenal.”
McAvoy played basketball
And this summer, McAvoy is
taking many of those kids on a for three years at Multnomah
trip that goes way beyond the University and played his fi nal
collegiate season at Warner Pa-
sport of basketball.
On June 29, McAvoy and cifi c.
McAvoy fi rst gained an in-
10 of his players will be head-
ing to the Dominican Republic terest in the mission fi eld while
in partnership with SCORE attending Multnomah. That in-
International — which is a terest intensifi ed when he got
non-profi t evangelistic orga- the opportunity to play bas-
nization — to bring hope to ketball internationally for four
underprivileged youth in the years.
“For these kids to be able to
country, with basketball be-
ing one of the primary forms do something like this is huge
of outreach. This trip is inde-
pendently funded and no way
connected with McNary High
or their boys basketball pro-
gram.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime op-
portunity, so I’m glad that I get
the chance to go. It’s cool to go
help people on the other side of
the world,” McNary freshman
Grant Goesch said.
“We all work together well
and we have good team chem-
“ I just had a
group of kids
that were
phenomenal.”
for expanding their horizons,”
McAvoy said. “It will get them
out of Keizer and they are going
to see poverty. They are going
to see people in great need and
they are going to help them.”
“They also will be bringing
hope to people, which isn’t just
playing basketball with them.
We want to make a difference
in people’s lives that is eternal.”
The majority of the kids go-
ing on the trip go the Christian
churches in the Salem-Keizer
area and plan to share their faith
with the people of the Domini-
can Republic.
“This group is more outspo-
ken about their faith then any
team I’ve had,” McAvoy said.
The trip will cost around
$2,000 per student. While there
are parents are fi nancially sup-
porting a number of the kids,
the group is also fundraising
money on their own and visit-
ing local businesses that would
be interested in fi nancially sup-
porting them.
So far, Cascade Flooring,
Dennis Boat Shop, Hurst Auto-
motive, PT Northwest, Nancy
Jo’s Burgers and Freeman Mo-
tors have all stepped up to sup-
port this trip.
“We want businesses to rec-
ognize our vision to build a
stronger community here at
home by reaching out to peo-
ple around the world,” McAvoy
said. “
If you would like to donate
to this trip, you can contact
McAvoy at 503-393-7558. You
can also donate on the SCORE
International website (scoreintl.
org) by fi lling out the following
boxes.
Travel Group Name: SWAT
Team
Trip Country: Dominican
Republic
Trip Dates: June 29-July 6
The deadline is May 16.
Circus comes to Salem
The all new 2019 Edition
of Garden Bros Circus is com-
ing to the Oregon State Fair
Grounds and Expo Center
on Wednesday, April 17 and
Thursday, April 18.
Performers from over 22
countries including the Crazy
Kambarov Horse Riderz, dar-
ing aerial artists, contortion-
ists, motorcycles in the Sphere
of Fear, jugglers as seen on
America’s Got Talent, and more
comprise the almost two-hour
show.
Kids can enjoy riding cam-
els and a circus pony, as well as
enjoy face painting in the kids
fun zone.
Adult admission is $26, and
child general admission is $10.
Ringside seats are $36 and
child ringside seats are $20.
To purchase tickets, visit:
secure.gardenbroscircus.com
Submitted
An attendee at last year’s accessible egg hunt hugs the Easter
Bunny.
Accessible egg hunt
at Log House April 20
Shangri-La, an organiza-
tion that serves people with
disabilities and disadvantages
so they may recognize and
achieve their potential, will be
hosting a free and accessible
Easter egg hunt on Saturday,
April 20.
The egg hunt activity is
reserved for individuals with
disabilities of all ages and their
immediate family members
ages 12 years and younger. A
portion of the egg hunt fi eld
will be on a paved surface so
individuals with mobility as-
sistive devices, like walkers or
wheelchairs, can more easily
get to the eggs. Egg baskets are
provided and there will be an
egg limit.
All are welcomed to par-
ticipate in the non-egg hunt
activities including photo
booths, games, and more. Par-
ticipants can show up anytime
between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
at Log House Garden 5655
Windsor Island Road N to
participate.
For more information,
contact Jennifer Dominquez
the Community Engagement
Coordinator, at (503)-581-
1732 ext. 318 or communi-
ty@shangrila-or.org.
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3975 River Road North
Keizer, OR 97303
Bus: 503-393-6252
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