When a fire destroyed the home and belongings of APA member Rick Berg, his Central Illinois APA family sprang into action, helping anyway they could. Taking up a collection for clothes and toys to help replace the tangible items Rick, his wife Susan, and their 18-month-old son Caleb desperately needed was step one. Organizing a benefit to raise money for the Berg Family was step two.
The benefit was held Nov. 6 at Rendezvous Bar & Grill in Decatur, Ill., and featured a pool tournament, auction, raffles, DJ and an all-you-can-eat buffet. During the event, $5,950 was raised, as well as numerous toys and articles of clothing.
Thirty-one players participated in the pool tournament, with Phil Crandall taking 1st Place. Kevin Newsham finished 2nd, while Carol Gifford finished 3rd.
For more information about the Central Illinois APA please visit illinoisapa.com.
Hawaiian Brian’s in Honolulu was the place to be on Oct. 9 as they hosted the inaugural Oahu APA Shoot for the Cure. The single elimination 9-Ball tournament raised $2,250 for the Hawaii Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
The tournament was open to both APA members and non-members. In addition to the entry fee, participants helped raise money by soliciting pledges from sponsors. The pledges ranged from 10 cents to $1 per ball pocketed. A running ball count was kept throughout the tournament, and 811 balls were pocketed when all was said and done.
Sophina Placencia (skill level 3) won the tournament. Second place went to Steve Van Ness (skill level 7). Wendee Wilson (skill level 3) and Kevin Higuchi (skill level 7) finished in 3rd Place. Higuchi was also the Highest Pledge Earner. Prizes were donated by Oahu APA, Aflac Insurance Hawaii and Poison Billiards, and all featured a pink ribbon insignia to help support breast cancer awareness.
For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure please visit komen.org, and for more information on the Oahu APA visit oahu.apaleagues.com.
The phrase “APA Family” is frequently spoken throughout APA Leagues. A shining example of what this truly means was found in the Pee Dee South Carolina APA on Aug. 29.
To say it’s been a rough year for longtime APA member Mike Gainey would be an understatement. His lungs collapsed after undergoing heart bypass surgery earlier this year. He then went into liver failure and his kidneys began to shut down. His family was told he would not leave the hospital alive. Fortunately, Mike did improve and was able to return home. Unfortunately, the medical bills began to pile up. That’s when his APA Family stepped in. Mike’s teammate, Robby Bryant, approached League Operators Richard and Regina Johnson about organizing a benefit to help cover some of the medical expenses, and the Johnson’s didn’t hesitate. “We couldn’t have done it without Robby’s help” Regina Johnson said. “Not only was it his idea, but he assisted every step of the way.”
The benefit was held at R & J’s Billiards & Pub in Florence, S.C., and included a double elimination 8-Ball tournament, food and raffles. The food was provided by the Johnson’s and Joe Turner, owner of The Phoenix Bar & Grill, also located in Florence, S.C. Twenty-five players competed in the 8-Ball tournament, where Larry McGee took 1st Place. Two raffles were also held, with Becky Bryant and Ray Weinburg being the lucky winners. Mike was on-hand for the benefit, which raised $650. He’s looking forward to playing pool competitively again—he plans on rejoining his team for the Fall Session. Good luck and best wishes Mike!
For more information about Pee Dee South Carolina APA, please visit peedeesouthcarolina.apaleagues.com.
Western Nebraska APA League Operators Joe and Carmen Bond continue to do their part to make the world a better place. On July 31, they held a charity tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Three different locations in Paxton, Neb.—Windy Gap, Swede’s and Ole’s—played host for the tournament. All three locations are on the same block, with just a short walk between each.
The modified single elimination event featured a Flip-Flop format, which alternates between 8-Ball and 9-Ball each round. Thirty-one shooters competed for their share of the $1,500 in prize money provided by the Bond’s. Ashley Sierks took 1st Place and Jared Truman finished in 2nd Place.
Western Nebraska APA will continue to accept donations for the charity throughout the Summer and Fall sessions—$237 has been raised so far for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “All money collected is donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in hopes of granting wishes to terminally ill children,” Joe Bond said.
For more information on donating, please visit nebraska.apaleagues.com, and for more information on the Make-A-Wish Foundation visit wish.org.
On July 10, Mohawk Valley APA helped Scott and Kim Tranter—owners of Empire Diner in Herkimer, N.Y.—raise money for local charities by building the World’s Largest Omelet. It was no coincidence that the omelet looked like a giant pool table.
Volunteers spent several hours cooking eggs dyed with green food coloring and placing them on a large platform in front of the diner. Donations were accepted in exchange for the opportunity to hit billiard-themed beach balls with an 18-foot cue stick into pockets made out of trash cans. The event raised $12,000 in food and $10,000 in cash for local food banks.
It took 45,000 eggs, 200 pounds of cheese, 150 gallons of milk and 120 pounds of butter to make the 2,200 square foot omelet, which broke the record set by the Tranter’s back in 2002. “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” has even agreed to feature the record breaking omelet in a future edition.
So, how many people did it take to eat the World’s Largest Omelet? The answer will remain unknown, since the giant omelet was donated to local pig farmers to be used as feed.
For more information about Mohawk Valley APA please visit mohawkvalley.apaleagues.com.
Date: June 12, 2010
Location: City Pool Hall, 640 West Hubbard, Chicago, IL 60654
Format: Double Elimination
Type of Event: Double Elimination
League Operator: Gregg Taylor
League Web Site: chicagocentral.apaleagues.com
Description: Charity tournament benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Click on the flier for more information, or contact Gregg Taylor via the web site listed above.
click here to view flier
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.
