Events & fundraisers

Rodeos, cornhole & a whole lot of village.

Our village has been showing up since 2017: a benefit and a fishing rodeo in our hometown of Jean Lafitte, cornhole in Duncansville and blue shirts every June 5. Today, every event puts water safety in front of families who need it.

Next up: National Water Safety Month

Coming up

Mom’s painting of a child on a swing under a full moon, with fireflies glowing below

AwarenessEvery June 5 · Next: June 5, 2027

Wear Blue on June 5

Everywhere

On the anniversary of Adam’s drowning, we wear blue for his hope and his strength, and share one water safety tip. Post yours with #WearBlueJune5th.

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Past events

Our dad stirring a big pot of jambalaya with a long paddle while Rickey, in an Adam’s Hope cap, looks on, a car show on the field behind them

FundraiserJuly 17, 2021

Social Cornhole Tournament at Duncansville Community Days

Duncansville, PA

A double-elimination social tournament during Duncansville Community Days. Registration at 3 p.m., bags flying at 4, cash prizes for the top two teams, and a whole lot of awareness to end childhood drowning.

Our blue tent at Duncansville Community Days, with the Because of ADAM banner, balloons, and the “Never swim alone” poster

AwarenessJuly 2021

Water Safety Booth

Duncansville Community Days, Duncansville, PA

We set up our blue tent with water safety info, a “Never swim alone” poster and our banner: “We will end childhood drowning. Join the movement. Become an Ally!”

Adam in his stroller holding a little chalkboard that says 1 day until cornhole

FundraiserSeptember 26, 2020

Because of ADAM Cornhole Tournament

Duncansville, PA

A double-elimination tournament with pulled pork (or two hot dogs), a jambalaya side, dessert, a snack cart, poker darts and a cornhole-board raffle. Bags started flying at 1 p.m., and the day raised money and awareness for water safety and CPR education in our community.

Painted rocks on a wooden table with confetti: Hope, Peace, Joy, #AdamRocks, and one with the name Amelia

AwarenessSince spring 2018

Adam Rocks

Louisiana and Pennsylvania

It started in the spring of 2018: a church group back home painted rocks in honor of Adam’s fighting spirit, and our mom, Shannon, and Lea hid rocks around Altoona before summer with one message: drowning is preventable. Then it grew into something bigger. Our mom carries a rock in her pocket when she needs Adam’s little spirit. We paint rocks for other families’ warriors, too. Find one, post it, pass it on.

#AdamRocks

AwarenessFebruary 14, 2020

Mardi Gras Drowning Awareness Throws

Louisiana

Our family back home in Louisiana made parade throws in Adam’s honor to spread drowning awareness along the Mardi Gras route.

Before Because of ADAM

In 2017 and 2018, before we started Because of ADAM, our hometown and friends held benefits to help with Adam’s care. We’ll never be able to thank them enough.

Flyer: Adam’s Army 200 Club, Saturday, October 13th. Doors open at 5pm, drawing at 6:30, dance to follow. Only 200 tickets will be sold, 40 are cash winners.

CommunityOctober 13, 2018

Adam’s Army 200 Club Benefit

Duncansville Community Center, Duncansville, PA

Adam’s Army held a benefit at the Duncansville Community Center: food, friends and a drawing with 40 cash prizes, and only 200 tickets, all for Adam’s medical care.

Family and friends in blue Adams Hope Fishing Rodeo shirts under the pavilion by the water, Adam in his stroller in front

CommunityJuly 14, 2018

Adam’s Fishing Rodeo

Jean Lafitte, Louisiana

Our family and our hometown of Jean Lafitte threw a fishing rodeo for Adam, with shirts, trophies, raffles, auctions, music and food, all donated. It paid for his first stem cell treatment at Duke. It showed us what a village can do.

#WereTheVillage

Friends in blue Adam’s Hope shirts at the Duncansville Community Center, Adam in his stroller in the middle with his monitor on the tray

CommunityOctober 14, 2017

200 Club Benefit Dinner, Drawing & Dance

Duncansville Community Center, Duncansville, PA

Our Pennsylvania community came together for dinner, a drawing with an $800 grand prize and a dance, all for Adam’s medical care. Earlier that day, Adam’s Hope shirts were for sale at a vendor fair, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A group in light blue Adam’s Hope shirts, with Adam in his stroller in the front row

CommunitySeptember 30, 2017

Adam’s Hope Benefit on the Bayou

Jean Lafitte, Louisiana

Our hometown packed the Jules Nunez Seafood Pavilion in blue Adam’s Hope shirts: a poker run, a car show, a cornhole tournament, live music, auctions and a kids’ fair, all for Adam’s medical care.

Our villageEvery blue shirt is somebody who showed up. Lafitte, Duncansville and everywhere in between.
Four young women in blue Adam’s Hope rodeo shirts gathered around Adam in his stroller, a stuffed sloth on his lap
Adam and his crew at the fishing rodeo.
The kitchen crew in blue shirts gathered around Adam in his stroller in a serving line
The kitchen crew.
A man and a woman in blue rodeo shirts standing beside Adam in his stroller, Adam in sunglasses with a stuffed sloth
With Adam at the rodeo.
A man and a woman in blue shirts leaning over Adam in his stroller in the pavilion
Checking on Adam.
A group selfie of eight people in blue rodeo shirts under a pavilion
The village, under the pavilion.
A man in a cap holding up a boiled crab, two women in blue shirts in front of him
Boiled crabs, Lafitte.
Four young women in blue Adam’s Hope shirts smiling under a pavilion roof
Adam’s Hope shirts.
Four people in rodeo shirts and aprons, with “We’re the village!” written across the top and the Adam’s Hope fishing rodeo logo
“We’re the village.” The rodeo, 2018.
Three people in blue shirts under the tent, one in a cap with an arm around the other
Adam’s parrain and Nannie, which is how we say godfather and godmother back home.
A selfie of four smiling young people in blue shirts
Rodeo selfie.
Painted rocks on a black table: a sunflower, a pumpkin, a ghost, a pineapple, a bee and one that says Boo, with orange and yellow paint dots
Painted rocks from a church group back home, 2018. #AdamRocks
A group in rodeo shirts at night, with “We’re the village!” across the top, a clock reading 4:32 a.m. and the Adam’s Hope fishing rodeo logo
4:32 a.m. Up before the sun, getting ready for the fishermen and women of the rodeo.

Want to host one?

Tournaments, rodeos, swim days, bake sales, birthday fundraisers: we’ll help with water safety materials and spreading the word.

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