Connect How did your love story begin?

We met at a college party. He was crushing beer pong, she was the new girl. We kept ending up in the same rooms, laughing and realizing we just clicked. He loved her wit; she couldn’t resist his charm. The next day, he asked her to a wedding. Then she invited him to see ‘Tenacious D’. She told her parents she thought they’d be great friends. Turns out, they’d be much more. From frat house to forever, it all started with a ping pong ball and a movie ticket.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Adopting from Inner Mongolia was a journey full of challenges, love, and community. We fundraised through yard sales and restaurant partnerships, and learned Mandarin to connect with our son. In-country, we explored deserts in dune buggies, ate camel in a yurt, and drank fermented mare’s milk. The culture, the adventure, and the bond we built were unforgettable. But the best part was that we came home a family.

What would you do with $20,000?

We’ve spent years supporting missionaries in Ethiopia who run Make Your Mark, an organization dedicated to getting abused kids off the streets. We also volunteer with Crisis Response International, bringing aid to disaster zones worldwide. With $20,000, we’d fuel their missions and help change lives across the globe. It’d be an honor to pay it forward on a bigger scale. We both act in an independent film series as well. It would be great to use some money to provide a bigger operating budget.