Post Eighty Two – A New Racquet

Yup…another post that has nothing to do with Brown or healthcare, but interesting nonetheless (at least to myself).  I got a new squash racquet this week and I’m in love.  I’ve had my eye on a Dunlop Precision Ultimate since 2016 and I’m thrilled to say I played my first game with one this Wednesday.  But first, no one starts off with a racquet like this – you sort of graduate into it.  The history of my racquets is below.

I picked up squash several years ago and instantly became addicted.  Three dimensional chess with a ball moving in excess of 150 mph in a confined space is exhilarating!  I had played tennis my entire life, as had my father, but it’s really hard to go back once you get used to squash.

My first racquet was a heavy aluminum starter Dunlop that served its purpose, but broke after a year and a half (just the strings).  At 195 grams it was a bit to lug around.  I didn’t know any better until a friend loaned me a graphite racquet; which, coincidentally, was the same time as mine broke, so it was a no-brainer to move into a lighter racquet.

I bought a 2014 Prince Airstick and at 140 grams on a graphite frame I couldn’t believe it!  There was a noticeable difference from the get go.  By this time I had became a better player and was ready for a lighter racquet.  I played with my Airstick for a few years with no issues.  At $75 I got my money’s worth out it and then some.

Earlier this year I felt it was time to upgrade to a higher end racquet.  And, like I said earlier, I had my eye on a Dunlop Precision Ultimate.  After playing twice a week for four years I was ready for something more suited to my game – and boy did this racquet deliver!

I won’t get into the racquets details, but let’s just say it fits my game and I’m as happy as ever.  My Wednesday partner, who is a better athlete than I am, fell victim this week to my new found precision and ball control on the court – and I owe it all to this racquet.

About Brown – it’s still 100% on my radar and will happen when the time is right.

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Eighty One – 2018…What a Year!

My sincere apologies for not keeping up this year.  That being said, our foundation had another BIG year!

We opened three more apartments in Atlanta for organ transplant patients and their caregiver(s) for a grand total of five!  Just like the two we opened last year in 2017, these are two bed, two bath, on the ground floor (so no climbing stairs), and fully furnished.  Best of all, they’re free for those in need…we even throw in a six-pack of Coca-Cola bottles in the fridge.

Our goal is to open five more in 2019 for a total of 10.  We’ve set a few other BIG goals as well.  I will keep on top of the blog this year.  Truth be told, I was out of control slammed in 2018 starting an investment bank, running a private club, and traveling.

Now let’s get to the other things I chat about…

My Georgia Bulldogs had an OK year.  We went 11-3 with an embarrassing loss to LSU, a horrible loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship, and we got taken to the woodshed by Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.  11-3 isn’t bad, especially in the SEC when you won the East, but after playing for the National Championship the previous year…well, let’s just say anything short of playing in the big game again was a let down (spoiled rotten, I know I am).

Now about my Bears…what the hell happened?!  1-9 and 0-7 in the conference!  Ain’t a whole lot to say here.

But…we have squash!  The men’s team is 1-2 with a win over Bates and losses to Yale and GW.  At least our squash team has as many wins as the boys on the gridiron and the season only started a month ago.

Lastly, the important stuff with Brown.  As you know, I was accepted into the Executive Master in Healthcare Leadership program in December of 2015.  I planned on starting in 2016, but a company I owned fell apart and thus, made it economically impossible to enroll.  I spent 2017 and 2018 rebuilding and learning a ton of lessons…and not a second of it was easy.  But, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

My goal is to enroll in 2020 (if they’ll have me).  The funny thing is this – by the time I finally enroll it’ll be best time I could’ve done it.  I have learned so much over the last three years about the healthcare industry, how to run a non-profit, and myself.  As much as I wanted to attend Brown in 2016, I have no doubt I’ll be able to give much more to my classmates in 2020.

So here’s to an exciting and world changing 2019!

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Eighty – 2017…What a Year!

What a year for our foundation (which is the reason why I’m going to attend Brown).  We opened two apartments, fully furnished (down to ice-cold Cokes in the fridge) for organ transplant patients and their caregivers.  They are 100% free of charge – no matter the length of stay.

Our first apartment has been occupied by the same gentlemen and his wife for several months.  He had a double lung transplant and unfortunately, had complications.  He’s doing better now and is always in our prayers.

Our second apartment has had a bit of tragedy.  The first patient who stayed there passed away shortly after her lung transplant.  It was heart breaking.  We have a new patient in there now who’s doing great with a liver transplant.

I have to give ALL the credit to my Mother.  She started with nothing and created this nonprofit through hard work and constantly being out of her “comfort zone”.

I am still going to enroll at Brown…it’s just taking longer than I planned (such is life, right?).  It’s funny how things work out in that I’m glad I’ll be attending later when the foundation is bigger.

From my family to yours – Happy New Year!  Here’s to a HUGE 2018!

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Seventy Nine – Nobel in D.C.

Mr. Claes Nobel (of the Nobel Peace Prize family) and I in Washington D.C.

My buddy, Dr. Raman Mehrzad, a graduate of the EMHL program, and Dr. Mr. Nobel.

So here’s the story – Raman and I met at Brown when I visited for interviews.  We became fast friends, belong to a private club together, and have not only stayed in touch, but came up with a business together in the education space.

I was invited to D.C. for an education conference and brought Raman with me.  The CEO of the company who put on the conference is friends and business partners with Mr. Nobel, so that’s how we got to meet him.  And he’s a great guy with a witty sense of humor!

The best part of the day was smoking a cigar with Raman and getting caught up.  We also came up with a few more business ideas that we’re working on.

Here’s another thing I’m into – visiting college campuses when I travel.  I swung by Duke on the way up from Atlanta and took a stroll around Georgetown when I got to D.C.  Both have beautiful campuses.

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Seventy Eight – Masters Tickets

This is yet another post that has nothing to do with Brown or my brothers foundation — I GOT MY 2017 MASTERS TICKETS!

I’m a big fan of golf.  And for golfers it doesn’t get bigger than The Masters at Augusta National.  I’ve been several times and it never gets old.  Heaven on Earth.

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Seventy Seven – We got our 501c3!

Boy did I ever drop the ball with the blog.  Life got busy — like REALLY busy.  But, I’ve stuck to my two weekly games of squash.  I can’t live without it.

My Bulldogs finished the season 8-5 with a Liberty Bowl win against TCU.  My Bears didn’t do as well with a 4-6 season.  Unfortunately, the men’s squash team isn’t faring too well either: 3-7 with losses to every conference school to date (Harvard and Dartmouth are coming up).

Now to the important stuff – my brothers foundation.  We got our 501(c)(3)!!!  

This is a move in the right direction because we can finally start going after bigger money to build transplant patient homes.  Here are a few reasons why my family and I are doing this:

1. 123,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the US
2. Another name is added every 10 minutes
3. 21 people die every day waiting for a transplant
4. One organ donor can save 8 lives and change the lives of 50 others
5. All major religions in the US support organ donation
6. A patients income, race, or social status are NEVER taken into consideration in the allocation process

So, as you can see, this stuff is important.  Every patient and their caregiver needs a comfortable place to live in while waiting for their transplant.  And we, at the Jeffrey C. Evans Foundation, are going to build places for them.

There is zero doubt that I will be attending Brown to get my masters in Healthcare Leadership for the sole reason of helping my brothers foundation and to serve EVERY transplant patient nationwide.

 

Post Seventy Six – A “W” and a “L”

Tags

College Football

It was a GREAT weekend for my Dawgs.  We beat South Carolina 28-14 in Columbia.  I know this wasn’t a big game in the grand scheme of things, but after last weeks heart break to Tennessee and the loss to Ole Miss…let’s just say Georgia needed a solid SEC victory.  I’ll take our 4-2 record out for a drink.

Now just what in the hell is going on with the Bears losing to Stetson 31-21?!  I’ve got to be honest here people…I had never heard of this school.  And to make it worse, it was a home game!  1-3 this early in the season is not good.

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Seventy Five – Football

What a terrible weekend for college football.  My Georgia Bulldogs lost to Tennessee in a last second hail mary and Brown lost to Rhode Island.  Better luck next week with South Carolina down south and Stetson up north.

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Seventy Four – Update On The Foundation

I know at times this blog may present itself as a place where a guy banters on his hobbies – namely squash, travel, and college football.  But, the purpose of this blog is really two-fold: to document how my family is creating a grassroots non-profit to help organ transplant patients and my (never-ending) journey to Brown University.

So let’s chat about the foundation.  For starters, it’s not easy.  My Mother, who does it full-time and usually by herself, is working herself to the bone.  We’re currently organizing another fundraiser, so donation items have to be sourced and LOTS of planning is necessary.

We also have a non-profit consultant flying from Seattle to Atlanta to meet with us for a weekend.  The truth is we have NO idea what we’re doing most of the time and we need the help of someone who has “been there, done that”.  What we’re good at is working hard and supporting one another.  Creating a non-profit is identical to starting a business…no walk in the park.

We’ve had conversations with other non-profits that are in the organ transplant community and continue to do so.  It truly takes a village.  Why reinvent the wheel?  It makes sense to talk to people who understand the emotional toll this takes and who are a few steps ahead of us.

We’re still in the process of getting our 501c(3) filed…a process that seems to take FOREVER!  We’re also figuring out how to create our Board of Directors.  Lots of people genuinely want to help, but you learn who’s really committed when push comes to shove.

Suffice to say we’re looking forward to spending time with our consultant, Liz.

I can’t wait for the day when our foundation is firing on all cylinders, I’m enrolled at Brown, and my parents have a team that supports them.  I guess it goes back to the old saying, “If it was easy, everyone would do it.”

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)

Post Seventy Three – A Trip To The Woodshed

Tags

Brown University, College Football, University of Georgia

It wasn’t a good weekend for either of my teams.  Brown lost to Harvard 32-22 in the Ivy League season opener and my Bulldogs got taken to the woodshed in Oxford.  Ole Miss pummeled us 45-14 (with our 14 coming against their second and third string guys).

Sincerely, The Graduate (at Brown)