Connect How did your love story begin?

In December 2015, Lisa and I were busy health care professionals and weren't in relationships. We met on Match.com. My assistant at the time encouraged me to try Match out. I reluctantly agreed. The very next day I saw Lisa’s profile. Within two weeks we met in person and the connection was instant. Feeling stable on our career paths, we felt we should explore what was happening right before our eyes. 2 weeks later we took a flight to Chicago to meet Lisa’s family.

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

We put our honeymoon off due to our work and school schedules. We finally got a break and decided to fly to Fiji, and Australia, 18 months after our wedding. While in Fiji, we visited a local school and read to the kids. Next, we traveled to Australia, where we met a group of Polish biologists who invited us to join them on a research vessel in the Great Barrier Reef. We visited an animal sanctuary, and while hugging Koala’s, they rubbed their pheromones on us which smelled as bad as a skunk!

What would you do with $20,000?

Getting a doctorate degree in health services administration is very expensive. We still have $250,000 in student loans. It would be great to pay that debt down. We have dedicated our lives to the service of others. We volunteer often and always donate to worthwhile causes. I received the Presidents Volunteer Service Award (Barack Obama) in 2015. Both Lisa and I have been recognized for our work. So these funds would allow us to continue to promote health literacy to the communities we serve