Always nice to kick off a Spring Invitational in the Snow! We start tonight at Markets at Comcast at 5:30, then on to O’Neals and Sidecar at 8. Sunnier days are on the horizon! Right???

I spoke briefly with Melanie, who moved back to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico after the hurricane. By attending Sunday evening’s quiz at World Cafe Live, you’ll be helping out people like Melanie.  Also, if you haven’t yet, check out the story about the event in the Philly Voice.

JGT: Where in Puerto Rico are you from?

Melanie: Santa Isabel, where I used to work at Famous Dave’s as a prep cook.

JGT: How did the hurricane effect you?

Melanie: After the hurricane hit, I lost everything. All of my belongings and my kids stuff. Water came through the roof, and destroyed diapers, kids toys, clothes, everything.

JGT: Are you originally from Puerto Rico?

Melanie: I actually grew up in Philadelphia. I thought that if I came to a place where I knew my way around, I’d be fine. But since then we’ve been bouncing around house to house.

JGT: Why are you staying in Philly instead of returning to Puerto Rico?

Melanie: FEMA wanted me to go back, but the house that I lived in, the owner has her family living there now, because they lost everything. So I don’t have anywhere to go.

JGT: What goals do you have here in Philly?

Melanie: My goal here is to get a steady place, and get back up on my feet, and provide for my kids.

JGT: How old are your kids?

Melanie: They are 3, 4, and 5, three boys.

JGT: Are they currently in school?

Melanie: It’s hard for me to find a school for them, because I don’t have a steady place to stay, and I don’t have any money for school supplies, so I’m not sure what to do.

JGT: Are you working now?

Melanie: I don’t have anywhere to take the kids while I work. But my husband works full time at WalMart. We just need the money for a down payment on a house. After that he’ll be able to take care of us and we’ll be able to pay rent. We just don’t have the money for the down payment.

JGT: Any last thoughts?

Melanie: We’re all in a difficult situation, and it’s nice to have people who are willing to help out.

If you’d like to help out but cannot attend on Sunday, feel free to donate here or you can paypal me at Johnny at johnnygoodtimes.com and I will give all of the money to Cheri Honkala, who is working to get these families housed.

 

Hey gang, I decided last minute to head out to Pittsburgh for the Radford-Nova game (Go Highlanders!). Carl is filling in. Same game plan as usual, but Birra quiz starts a little bit early at 7:45 and Bards quiz will start a little bit late tonight. Probably around 9:45. Fun quiz this week. Hope you can make it. If you wanna follow my adventures in Pittsburgh, follow me on twitter. 

As you probably know by now we’ve got a Puerto Rico evacuee fundraiser coming up on Sunday at the World Cafe Live. An exciting development on that front: we’ve got a band lined up for the event: Foto Rodriguez y Amigos. Here’s everything else you need to know:

WHO: Anyone who enjoys quizzo, live music, and helping people out.

WHAT: Puerto Rico Evacuee Fundraiser.

WHEN: Sunday, March 18th, at 5:30 p.m. (doors at 4:30).

WHERE: World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut Street)

WHY: Long story short: after Hurricane Maria, numerous families were evacuated to Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the city has run out of money to house them, and many have them have nothing to return to in Puerto Rico. So we are trying to raise some money to get them housed. Many of them are working in Philadelphia, but don’t have enough for first, last, and security. So that’s where we come in. I would really love to get 100 people out to this event so that we can help at least some of these families.

All of the money after paying for the room is going to the families in need. So I would request that you help me spread the word as much as possible.

WHAT IF I CAN’T PLAY? CAN I STILL HELP? Yes, there are a couple of ways you can help. You can donate to the cause, either by clicking here and filling out the form, Paypalling me at johnny at johnnygoodtimes.com (I’ll forward all of the money to Cheri Honkala, who runs P-PEHRC, the org trying to help out), or you can give me cash this week at quizzo, which I will them give to Cheri. You can also help if you have an extra, unused room in your home.

IS THERE AN EVENT PAGE ON FACEBOOK I CAN SHARE WITH FOLKS? Yes indeed. Please share.

WHERE DO I GET TICKETS? You can pick them up from me at quizzo this week, you can buy the online, or you can get them at the door.

WHAT IS MAX TEAM SIZE? Max team size in 8.

WHAT WILL THE QUIZ BE ABOUT? It will be a general knowledge quiz, but with a Puerto Rico twist.

 

 

Alright, we’re back at it for a 14th year! Just go here, enter your email, and we’ll give you your code to enter and a 30% off code at Shibe Sports. It’s free to enter, and we’ve got several great prizes:

• 1st place: $100 gift certificate to Shibe Sports 
• 2nd place: $50 gift card to Manatawney Still Works
• 3rd place: $25 gift card to O’Neals
• 50th place: $50 gift card to Founding Fathers.

O’Neals and Founding Fathers are both excellent places to watch the games, and Manatawney is an awesome local distillery with a tasting room on Passyunk that I highly recommend. We’ve got a lot of exciting stuff going on at Shibe, and are in the midst of a major renovation. We’ll be having a party soon to celebrate. We’re also giving you 30% off just for signing up for the brackets. And be forewarned before you make your picks: Nova doesn’t stand a chance against Radford.

 

It’s Tourney Time, and I spend a fair amount of the tourney at O’Neals. And what better way to kick it off than tonight, as my alma mater Radford plays in the 6:30 play in game. So I will be arriving at O’Neals at 6:30 to watch the game, then kick off the quiz as soon as the game is over. Please feel free to hop on this Radford bandwagon as it kicks into gear, and join me for tonight’s game. Then play some quizzo.

Meanwhile, Sidecar will get a break from Goodtimes, as Boots Boccuti hosts tonight at 8 p.m. Hope to see ya tonight!

Several families who were brought to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria are facing homelessness in a few weeks, unless the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign can raise the money to secure them housing. The FEMA vouchers end for these families on March 20th. You can read more about their plight in this article in the Inquirer.

In an attempt to raise some of that money for families in need, I will be hosting a quizzo event at the World Cafe Live on March 18th. Live Latin Music will be played between rounds. Tickets are $20 apiece and all of the money (after room expenses) is going towards P-PEHRCs efforts to secure these families housing in Philadelphia.

“The families from Puerto Rico have already been displaced from their home and their land,” says P-PEHRC founder Cheri Honkala. “We can’t stand by and watch families become homeless again. We are grateful that Johnny Goodtimes has stepped forward to assist us in raising money to house these families.”

Tickets are available online here and can also be purchased from Goodtimes next week at his weekly quizzes.