Kiwanis Poker Tournament a Big Winner

There was a whole lot of checking and calling, raising and folding at the Marco Island Kiwanis Club’s sixth annual Texas Hold'em Tournament. 

Held recently at Marco Lutheran Church, the poker tourney serves as a fundraiser for the local organization’s Children’s Fund, which provides money for such programs as Toys for Kids, a Christmas gift program for Manatee Elementary School students, scholarships for graduating high school seniors and support for other school programs, including needed school equipment. 

“Every dollar that we raise stays right here to help the kids in the community,” said the club’s treasurer and 2024 tournament director, Lucky Lang. 

In 2023, 89 Texas Hold'em players took part, generating a net of more than $10,000 for the fund, $2,000 of it from a single donation. This year’s tournament had slightly fewer players, 85 or 86, said Lang, but still raised about $8,200.

“It was a very successful event, “he said in the tourney’s aftermath. “I am so happy that we were able to raise over $8,000 for the kids in the community. It was a great event. Six years ago, when I started this, we raised about $3,000. We had a record last year and we came close, if not maybe just a couple bucks more than last year. I'm ecstatic.”

“And the main thing is that people came to have a very good time and they did,” Lang said. “I can't tell you how many people came up and said it was the best run poker tournament they’d ever been in because there’s no competitive nastiness, as in a lot of casino tournaments, because it's for charity.”

Texas Hold'em, is one of poker’s most popular and more complicated games. 

Each hand starts with two “hole cards” dealt face-down to each player. Next, five “community cards” are dealt face-up in three stages. Players seek the best five-card hand from any combination of the seven cards. Betting options allow players to check, call, raise or fold. Rounds of betting take place before the first three community cards are dealt and after each subsequent deal. The player with the best hand who has not folded by the end of the betting rounds wins the pot. In some situations, a “split-pot” or tie occurs when two players have hands of equal value. 

The Kiwanis tournament draws a mix of experienced and inexperienced Texas Hold’em players, some folks who participate every year, and newcomers to both the game and the event. To assist novices with its intricacies, a Texas Hold’em enthusiast, Patricia Burdette, set up shop at a table to offer lessons and answer questions before play began. 

She’s taken part in the tournament since its inception, finishing second in 2023. Burdette has been a tournament regular because, “First of all, it’s for a good cause and second of all, I love poker. I play poker quite often, so it's kind of a passion. And the Kiwanis is always supporting children, so for no other reason than to support the children that need scholarships or whatever it is that they might need.”

2023 top finisher Jeff Ricigliano, echoed that sentiment as he awaited the start of play. “It does great things for the kids,” he said of the tournament. “I know they raise a lot of money, so it's great to be able to donate and have fun at the same time.”

Paul Scherr surprised himself with a seventh-place finish last year, which was his first time participating in the tournament. He said he appreciates the relaxed atmosphere, as compared to the “blood sport” environment in poker rooms where professionals play. 

“This is an amateur event,” he added. “It's fun. It's friendly. Actually, if you play in charity events like this, you don't care if you lose because it's all going to good causes.”

Participants don’t come away with any cash winnings. Instead, the top eight finishers receive lucrative prizes donated by island businesses and residents. Among them, a grand prize of a one-week stay at a two-bedroom, two-bath luxury suite on the Las Vegas strip, and for the second-place finalist, a one-night, two-day stay at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. 

Prizes are also awarded to the player with the best overall hand. There was also an auction of items donated by Marco businesses and residents. 

The Marco Island Kiwanis Club holds a number of other annual fundraisers to support the organization’s child-centered charitable efforts, including a car show on February 24, a 5K family fun run on March 2, and 50/50 raffles. 

Aside from Toys for Kids and scholarships for graduating high school seniors, other examples of the club’s charitable efforts include: 

Spending several thousand dollars last year to purchase books for Tommie Barfield elementary students for Kiwanis’ Reading is Fundamental program, which supports childhood literacy.

Purchasing, assembling and donating 41 bicycles last year to needy Manatee elementary students who were chosen by the school.

The Terrific Kids program which recognizes excellence in third through fifth graders, as judged by their teachers, by honoring the students selected, their parents and siblings at a breakfast that includes a number of gifts, highlighted by a medal to be worn around the neck.

Reading is Fundamental supports literacy by providing books to elementary children.

Marco Island Academy’s Key Club, where students are mentored in community service and leadership, with scholarships available to graduating seniors.

As Lang said previously, “Everything that we do is for the kids here in the community.”

For more information about the Marco Island Kiwanis Club, its activities and events, and to donate to its charitable programs, please visit marcokiwanis.com/. For more photos of the winners, go to the Coastal Breeze News website.