Northwest Dallas APA combined forces with Wizards Sports Cafe in Richardson, Texas on Dec. 22 to hold their inaugural Toys for Tots 8-Ball Scotch Doubles Tournament. Thirty-two teams showed up with toys as an entry fee and over 200 toys were collected.

Lori Way, Northwest Dallas APA League Operator, donated two Action pool cues for 1^st Place and an assortment of APA merchandise for 3^rd Place; Wizards Sports Cafe donated $50 in gift certificates for the 2^nd Place team.

Jose Dorado Jr. and Juan Contreras took 1^st Place, Richard Dankovcik and Lucy Kimble placed 2^nd, and Kevin and Deanna Bush finished 3^rd.

For more information on Toys for Tots visit toysfortots.org; and for more information on Northwest Dallas APA visit nwdallas.apaleagues.com.

Sixteen shooters turned out for the 3^rd Annual Toys for Tots Benefit tournament held at Terry’s Billiard Club in Topeka, Kan., on Dec. 4.  Leon Sylvestor took 1^st Place in the tournament, which used a Speed 8-Ball format.  Local merchants donated enough gifts that everyone who entered the tournament received a prize.  Northeast Kansas APA League Operators Jim & Rosemary Halladay matched the entry fees and Terry Munson, owner of Terry’s Billiard Club, matched the quarters that went into the tables, making the total donation to Toys for Tots $600.

For more information on Toys for Tots visit toysfortots.org.

When APA of Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill heard the story of the Durham County Department of Social Services in a scramble to provide a Merry Christmas to 300 families in the community, APA members came through with an overwhelming response of donations. Durham County Department of Social Services was notified just four days before Christmas that a local church was unable to fully fulfill a sponsorship to provide gifts/toys to 300 Durham families. The story was brought to APA’s attention by long-time member, Susan Brancaccio, just three days before Christmas—they decided to see what they could do to help!

APA of Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill posted the story in their Breaking News Forum on their website at 2:37 p.m. on Dec. 22 asking members to help with a last minute toy drive. The post from the forum was emailed to all members and posted on their Facebook page. Members were asked to bring a toy to any Wednesday night APA Host Location—the response was overwhelming! By the end of the night, APA had collected toys from seven different drop-off locations (Bailey’s Pub & Grille, Brown’s Billiards, Buck’s Billiards, The Green Room, High House Billiards, Hot Shots and Snookers Sports Pub). Members from these Host Locations, other APA Host Locations and people who aren’t even APA members contributed!

In just 10 hours, APA collected enough toys to completely cover a 9-foot Brunswick pool table! The final donation count from APA to the Durham County Department of Social Services was 139 toys and 1 gift card!

For more information on the APA of Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill please visit apa-raleigh.com.

Side Pockets in Wichita, Kan., was the site of the Inaugural Greater Wichita APA Holiday Charity 8-Ball Tournament.  Thirty members competed in the double elimination tournament, which featured $1,000 in added prize money provided by APA.  The event raised $325 in cash, non-perishable food items, and toys for the Kansas Food Bank and Toys for Tots.  Shane Aguinaga won the tournament, while Kevin Rempe finished in 2^nd Place. 

Every player who participated in the tournament, which took place on December 4, received a door prize.  Sponsors contributing prizes for the event were Side Pockets, Ultra Modern Pool & Patio, Chilton Billiards, Sedgwick County Zoo and the Wichita Thunder Hockey team.

For more information about the Kansas Food Bank please visit kansasfoodbank.org and for more information on Toys for Tots visit toysfortots.org.  Also view Greater Wichita APA’s website at greaterwichita.apaleagues.com.

APA of Logan County Illinois held a charity tournament to benefit Toys for Tots on Dec. 4.  Twenty members participated in the 8-Ball singles tournament held at Glasshouse Tavern in Lincoln, Ill.  The double elimination tournament raised $352 and $50 in toys for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.   

First Place in the tournament went to Greg Battin, Sr.  Dave Bixler finished in 2^nd Place, followed by Lester Martin in 3^rd Place.

League Operator Julie Branson said, “Everyone had a good time and we plan on making this an annual event.”

For more information on the Toys for Tots Foundation please visit toysfortots.org, and for more information about APA of Logan County Illinois visit logan.apaleagues.com.

Northeast Kansas APA held their 2^nd Annual Toys for Tots Benefit Tournament on Sunday, Dec. 5.  Twenty-four players participated in the Speed 8-Ball tournament, which took place at Terry’s Billiard Club in Topeka, Kan.  Through entry fees, green fees and donations, $450 and $120 worth of toys was collected for the charity.   

Speed 8-Ball is played using the same rules as APA 8-Ball, but consists of four stripes, four solids, and the 8-ball racked in a diamond formation, similar to a 9-Ball rack.  Joe Johnson (skill level 7) won the tournament, while Frank Alley (skill level 5) finished in 2^nd Place. 

Everyone who entered the tournament received an APA t-shirt, plus one other prize depending on where they finished.  Prizes were donated by Olive Garden, Banjo’s Café, Three Fires Steakhouse in the Prairie Band Casino and the Billiard Supply Store of Topeka.

In addition to the tournament, Northeast Kansas APA awarded additional prizes through their Reward Point Program.   All members on an active Fall Session team roster were eligible for the drawing.  Prizes included a 7-foot pool table, cues and cases.  Ten lucky member numbers were drawn, with Christopher Cunningham landing the coveted pool table.  Ray Llamas, James Burke, Steve Wiechman, Daniel Priest, Angela McGhee, James Hornberger, Gary Oshel, Scott Abbott and Sheila Early all won cues and cases. 

Northeast Kansas APA League Operator Jim Halladay said, “Everyone had a great time and we’re looking forward to doing it again next year!” 

For more information about the Toys for Tots Foundation please visit toysfortots.org, and for more information about the Northeast Kansas APA visit nekansasapa.com.

Dec. 4 was a very cold and snowy day in Arden, N.C., but that didn’t stop 20 devoted APA members from participating in Blue Ridge APA’s Inaugural Toys for Tots Pool Tournament. Another 20 members showed up just to watch and provide support.

The Scotch Doubles 8-Ball tournament was held at Fat Cat’s Billiards, who donated the table time for the event. In addition to collecting over 60 toys, Blue Ridge APA raised $405 for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Staff Sergeant Wes Russell of the Marine Corps attended the event to meet with poolplayers, distribute raffle prizes and collect the toys being donated to the children.

Robbie Deaton and Dave Varnell won the tournament, with Grayson Briggs and David Wright finishing in 2nd Place. Demonstrating the true spirit of the season, the winners elected to donate their prize money back to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

For more information about the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation please visit toysfortots.org, and for more information about Blue Ridge APA visit blueridge.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.