In January of 2010, Ian Woodman, an Idaho businessman, entered a basketball contest that required predicting the winner of the 2010 NCAA basketball champion.  The prize: $21,000. As March Madness approached and the tournament started to determine who would be the 2010 champion, Ian Woodman was still alive in this contest. According to Ian Woodman, Idaho isn’t a huge contender in the sports arena and he spent his time rooting hard for Duke to win it all.

He knew that he had a small chance to win this contest, and Ian Woodman’s Idaho friends and family were watching the contests closely. He wanted to get more people involved, so he started telling people that, if he won the contest, he would take everyone to Disney World. There were a total of 20 people that were offered this opportunity – if Duke would win the championship.  According to Ian Woodman, Idaho is a long way from Disney and most of them could never afford to take a trip across the country. He was nervous with anticipation when the final four were determined.

The last four teams included Duke.  Duke would have to win their next 2 games to win the championship.  As Ian Woodman’s Idaho home was filled with excited spectators, his team won the first game very easily.  The kids, the adults, family, friends, and other people that knew about the contest, but were not invited, were all screaming during the championship game rooting for Duke.  At that moment, Ian Woodman ’s Idaho escape was looking nearer to reality.

Ian Woodman says Idaho was dead still during the last 30 seconds of the game. He and his friends held their breath as the game was tied with less than a minute to go. Duke took a 2 point lead after making a free throw with only a few seconds to go in the game.  The other team would have one last shot to win the game.  Ian Woodman’s Idaho home remained silent except for the humming of multiple prayers being murmured by everyone in the room.  Butler, the other team, dribbled down the court and shot a 3 point basket at the buzzer that barely missed.  Everyone erupted with screams, and some were even crying with happiness. Ian Woodman and Idaho family and friends would visit Disney World!

Ian Woodman won the contest and the $21,000. True to his word, this fun-loving father gathered the 17 people who could go and headed to Disney in February 2011. Airfare, tickets to the park, food, and accommodates were provided to guests, all thanks to Ian Woodman. Idaho, more specifically his hometown of Coeur d’Alene, sent over a dozen of its residents to Florida for two weeks while the group enjoyed their vacation and reminisced about Duke winning the championship.

The group visited 8 different amusement parks and created some of the best memories anyone could possibly have ever dreamed about.  Ian Woodman says Idaho is great, but only Disney could offer these types of memories for his kids.

Ian Woodman, Idaho entrepreneur, co-owns Instant Tax Solutions, a national tax debt resolution firm.