It was nothing but net when Ethan Sandberg, dressed in one of our distinctive black Do Good volunteer shirts, squared up at the foul line at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gymnasium, shot and scored this week.
Ethan, 14, son of Eric Sandberg, was recruited to take a foul shot on behalf of National Life at halftime at a University of Vermont men’s basketball game this week.
What was on the line with the free throw attempt was a $500 donation to the schools where the educators from Vermont who were nominated this year for the LifeChanger of the Year.
And because Ethan made the shot so effortlessly and gracefully, the schools got a check.
We will admit that we went looking for a ringer to make the shot and found one in Ethan. He plays a lot of basketball, including at Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School in South Burlington, where he’s a student.
National Life is the season sponsor of the UVM men’s basketball team this year, which included a night to recognize the good National Life does.
We highlighted LifeChanger of the Year, inviting Vermont nominees to come out to the game. Half of the nominees were able to make it.
We got to choose a halftime event that would feature our Do Good cause. We would have made a contribution regardless of how the free-throw shot turned out. But Ethan showed poise and so we were happy to make the full donation.
The schools that got $500 apiece were: Spaulding High School, East Montpelier Elementary School, Montessori School of Central Vermont, Milton Town School District, Central Vermont Career Center, Ferrisburgh Central School, Bradford Elementary School, and Burlington High School.
