Date:  July 31, 2010
Location:  Paxton, Neb.
Format:  Modified Single Elimination
Type of Event:  Flip-Flop Singles (alternate rounds of 8-Ball & 9-Ball)
League Operators:  Joe & Carmen Bond
League Web Site:  nebraska.apaleagues.com
Description:  Charity tournament benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.  For information visit the League Web Site listed above.

Every year Western Nebraska APA League Operators Joe and Carmen Bond dedicate their entire Spring Session to raising money for cancer research.  Donations are collected through weekly team packets, raffles and two tournaments—with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

The first tournament, a 9-Ball Singles event, was held Feb. 13 at Walker’s Steakhouse in Gothenburg, Neb.  Lois Holbein took 1^st place in the modified single elimination tournament, where 27 participants competed.

The second tournament, an 8-Ball event held on March 27 at the Touchdown Club in North Platte, Neb., hosted 47 players.  Ashley Osienger took 1^st place in the modified single elimination event.

To ensure that every dollar raised from entry fees can be donated to the American Cancer Society, Western Nebraska APA provides $1,500 in prize money to each tournament.

$1,301 was raised for cancer research through donations, raffles and tournaments. For more information on the Western Nebraska APA visit nebraska.apaleagues.com and for more information about the American Cancer Society please visit cancer.org.

Numan’s Billiards in Johnson City, Tenn., played host to Mike Massey on March 11. He helped Tri-Cities APA collect money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Massey entertained the crowd of nearly 200 APA and non-APA members with his dazzling display of trick shot artistry.  The exhibition was free-of-charge with donations accepted to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  The event raised $194 for the charity. 

League Operator Justin Bledsoe plans to hold the event again next year and hopes to raise even more money for the hospital.  “Tri-Cities APA was very happy we could raise this money and we look forward to more benefit events in the future,” Bledsoe stated.

Please visit stjude.org for more information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For additional information about the Tri-Cities APA in Eastern Tennessee visit tricities.apaleagues.com.

When longtime APA member and Host Location owner Bill “Teddy Bear” Wetherell passed away last September, Central Illinois League Operator Kim Jones knew she was going to keep his memory alive somehow.  On Jan. 30 she fulfilled that mission by holding a 3-on-3 charity tournament in Wetherell’s honor.   The tournament raised money for the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur, Ill., a charity that Wetherell personally contributed to each Christmas.

“Bill was a generous man, and we wanted to continue his contributions through an APA event,” Jones said.  “He loved the APA, playing in the League since 1989, so a pool tournament benefitting an organization that he cared about was a logical choice.”

The Teddy Bear Tournament, held at Rendezvous Bar & Grill in Decatur, Ill., raised $2,400 for the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur.  The double elimination 3-on-3 tournament included 32 teams.  The team consisting of Chris Akers, Blake Rauch and Coty Pinnell won 1^st Place. Carol Gifford, Rob Thompson and Dave Miller finished as Runners-Up.  Third place went to Todd Tibbs, Tiffany Blastenbrei and Ricky George. Ken Koshinski, Jim Irwin and Chris Sullivan finished in 4^th Place.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Club please visit bgca.org; for additional information about the Central Illinois APA visit illinoisapa.com.

In the true spirit of “Pool Together”, APA of North Alabama joined forces with North Alabama BCA to raise money for Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA).  The fundraiser, which raised $450 for the Sipsey River Chapter of BACA, was held Jan. 30 at Diamond’s Billiards in Huntsville, Ala.  Wayne Parker, owner of Diamond’s Billiards, donated the table time for the event, which included an 8-Ball tournament and a 9-on-the-Break contest.  Chuck Zeiher, husband of APA League Operator Lee Zeiher, volunteered his time as tournament director, ensuring that the double elimination tournament ran smoothly.

“We love supporting BACA,” Lee Zeiher said.  “They are a wonderful organization, and they truly do a lot to protect abused children locally.”

For more information about Bikers Against Child Abuse please visit bacausa.com, and for more information about the APA of North Alabama please visit northalabama.apaleagues.com.

Most people support a specific charity because of a personal connection—and Midwest Illinois APA League Operators Bruce and Dana Patton certainly fall into that category.  For the past three years, the Patton’s have conducted a Scotch Doubles Tournament to benefit the ALS Association.  The tournament is held in memory of long time APA member Bob Hinkle, Jr., who passed away in fall 2007—less than a year after being diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The tournament took place on Dec. 19 at Baxter’s in Fairview Heights, Ill.  The modified single elimination tournament boasted 22 teams. The father and son team of Marty and Martin Kaczmarowski took first place.

The event also featured an exhibition by world famous trick shot artist, Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman, who stuck around after his show to run a lag competition.  Dr. Cue and his wife then graciously matched the amount collected from the lag competition!  Ethan Adams took first place in the lag competition, while Mark Montgomery finished second.

The benefit raised $1,452 for the ALS Association, which was donated to the St. Louis Regional Chapter.

Please visit alsa.org for more information about the ALS Association; for additional information about the Midwest Illinois APA go to midwestil.apaleagues.com.

Shoreline Billiards in Mountain View, Calif., kicked off the 2009 holiday season in style on Dec. 5, by hosting the 1^st Annual South Bay APA Holiday Party.  The bash wasn’t just a celebration; it also raised money for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and the Second Harvest Food Bank. 

League Operator Doug Coleman organized two Scotch Doubles tournaments—one with a maximum skill level of 8, the other with a maximum skill level of 13—allowing members of all playing abilities to compete.  The tournaments used a round robin format, with the winner of each group advancing to a single elimination bracket.  The skill level 8 Tier had 16 teams competing, with Jason Alvarado and Mary Nguyen taking 1^st Place.  Errol Modine and Amy Williams won the skill level 13 Tier, which had 28 teams battling for top honors. 

Members who weren’t able to compete in one of the tournaments could contribute to the cause in other ways.  “We also ran silent auctions on various pool memorabilia and gift certificates to local restaurants,” Coleman said.  “Along with the silent auctions we ran a game of craps pool.  Players would roll dice to determine where balls would be placed on the table and then they’d have to run out to earn points.  The number of balls the player had to run was dependent upon their skill level, so the lower skill level players only had to make two or three balls.” 

$1,700 was raised for the two charities. Coleman believes this year’s South Bay APA Holiday Party will be even more successful. 

For more information about the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation please visit toysfortots.org, and for more about the Second Harvest Food Bank visit shfb.org.   

For more information about the South Bay APA go to southbayapa.com.

Rack Daddy’s in Dallas, Texas was the place to be on Oct. 27! Plano Collin County APA held its 2^nd Annual tournament to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  The event, which wrapped up Breast Cancer Awareness Month, drew more than 50 people.  While a large majority participated in the double elimination 8-Ball tournament, many showed up with a donation to receive a coveted pink rubber ducky.  Everyone who participated in the tournament or made a donation received an APA pink ribbon patch.  League Operator Sam Holliday also collected donations by playing challenge matches—giving participants a chance to win an “I Beat the LO” patch while contributing to a worthy cause.  Several skill level 7 members also donated their time, playing challenge matches against individuals shooting for an “I Beat a SL7” patch.  By the time the final ball dropped, $880 had been collected for the charity!

For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure please visit komen.org, and for more on the Plano Collin County APA go to 8onthebreak.com.