The Father Son Chats

Created by Matthew Brady, SpreadHDGFX (Spread HD Graphics). Follow Matthew on Twitter as @spreadhdgfx

We have been bracing here on the North-Eastern seaboard of the United States for what some have taken to labeling the “Snowicane” that is coming which some said would make our previous Snowmageddon pale in comparison. The true “blizzard of ’10″ is said to bring large amounts of snow to many areas, and extremely high winds creating near blizzard conditions for even areas with limited snow accumulations.

The THON Team at Cumberland Valley >are not afraid. They have been planning and working, and fund-raising, year round, anticipating their “big event.” They apparently also have an “in” with God. In looking at the weather maps, and they way the storm will swirl about Pennsylvania, it appears our portion of South-Central PA will emerge relatively unscathed and, more importantly, with no school cancellations that would have a negating effect on CV THON.

So I am left with two requests: Pray for “no snow.” And, when it comes to donations, “Pray for Rain.” Pray, that our community will continue to reach out, and touch hundreds of lives through the love and dedication of these high school kids!

I am posting a triple video threat today. First, I wanted to share a video from Penn State’s THON in 2009, entitled “Where are They Now.” A powerful testimony to the love and devotion the THON has, and the impact the Four Diamonds Fund has had on children 10 15, or 20 years after they were diagnosed with pediatric cancer.

The second video shows just home much fun CV THON students have, as they find creative ways to not only raise money For The Kids, but to do it while having fun with each other (This time–dodge-ball.) Check the schedule. They have this Dodge Ball TOURNAMENT scheduled DURING CV THON! According to Matthew, they have about 30 teams — “It’s EPIC.”

Finally, no plea for you, dear readers, to “Pray for Rain” would be complete without including the song from PFR.

FOR THE KIDS!

Where are They Now

DODGEBALL

PFR

There are now two days until CV THON starts. IF the storm stays away…

I am sure you are wondering “how can I donate, and ensure these kids get credit for it?” It’s simple. From their website:

For Members of the Community

Donations of $100 and up will receive a t-shirt.

Donations can be sent to:

CV Four Diamonds Fund
Cumberland Valley High School
6746 Carlisle Pike
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Attn: Elizabeth Rimpfel

These kids work hard year round.  They are planning, canning (raising funds at sporting events and retailers), and reaching out to the media.  They certainly know that it is important to work hard FOR THE KIDS.

BUT… they also know how to have fun.  Don’t believe me? Just watch this video.

Cumberland Valley HS’s THON is only three days away. As I mentioned before, this THON is like it’s (much) larger sibling at Penn State, raising money for the Four Diamond Fund and their fight against Pediatric Cancer.

Take the time to learn about the wide range of activities they have planned at the CV THON by visiting their site at http://cvschools.org/thon and then watch the video of last year’s LINE DANCE at CV THON!

FOR THE KIDS!

As you may have read Penn State’s THON was another ringing success, raising over $7.8 million in funds (and increasing the awareness) for the fight against pediatric cancer.  As I mentioned before, the funds raised go the Four Diamonds Fund which has, as it’s mission:

…to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research.

Any family with a child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn StateHershey Children’s Hospital is automatically eligible for support.

But wait-there’s MORE!

Cumberland Valley High School has their THON Dance Marathon this coming weekend.  High school kids couldn’t sit by and watch Penn State students raise all the funds.  They too were moved to help in the fight against childhood cancer.  They too wanted to contribute in not only money, but time and passion.  They too wanted to dance to victory over Pediatric Cancer.

So they will have their THON dance, February 27th-28th, 2010.  Learn more about CV Thon here.  Or see pictures from last year’s CV THON.

You can support CV THON by donating directly to the Four Diamonds Fund.  Just visit their site at: http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/development/give

Oh, and watch these videos.

I finally received my Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera (Target had them in stock, and on sale! Go Target!)  I really am enjoying it, and I am even “digging” the Raspberry color. Matt and I had a chat in the car while waiting for his Mom to join us for lunch.  We were talking about his iPhone which has  lived a good, but HARD life. And we chatted about it… on the zi8.

The season is over, and the girls and the boys teams both placed 3rd in the state-wide tournaments.  While the boys would have liked to have had a repeat of the Championship from last year, they know they played hard, and had a great season.

As usual, I put the slideshow together for them.  I have had a few requests to make the slideshow available for others to watch, so here it is.

 

 Flash Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (475)

Wilson HS boys Water Polo team demonstrated this weekend that they had the power and determination to go all the way, winning the Pennsylvania HS State Championship Tournament in water polo.

You can go watch the final Match recorded as we streamed it, live, via uStream.  If you want to watch that match (or many of the others from the Tournament) go to http://uStream.tv/cvpolo

I realized, as I was going through the site here, that I had failed to actually post last year’s CVHS commercial that we put together when CV Boys won that same title, defeating none other than Wilson HS for the honor of being the 2008 Champions.  That was the same year that we put together the “Wilson… is Going Down!” video before the dual match at CV.

So,

 

 CV Boys win 2008 PA Water Polo Title: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (343)

Today is the first day of the two day PA State Tournament, and Cumberland Valley is defending their title.

To help motivate the team I did this week’s water polo commercial.  I had asked Matt if he wanted to do it, but he said he wanted to be surprised with it–so this one is mine.

 

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This commercial was Matthew’s first attempt at a real video commercial for Water Polo, blending music, and action, and so forth.  This was “all his” including music selection, and editing the music down to the appropriate length, and so forth.  Enjoy

If you like this work, or any of the other graphics work you see on this page, email Matt and let him know.  You can reach him at his “new” graphics company email

matt@spreadhdgfx.com

(nb:  we have two versions here.  The first is an h.264 mpeg codec version, and the other is a flash video.  I would really appreciate feedback from you on which ones played for you (or both, or neither…)

 

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