When we were in charge of the Wednesday night club, we adopted the phrase, “We give more!” We gave more points by having special games nearly every week. We gave more opportunities to learn with free lessons, hand records,  and Common Game analysis. We gave more by having special charity games and fund raisers.  Alas, night bridge just didn’t have a great deal of interest in this area.

So, last July, when we had the opportunity to buy the day games, we were excited. Three games-we can give more-three times as much, in fact. And we do. We give more points and because the games are bigger, we can give lots more points. We still have the educational opportunities with hand records, free monthly lessons (with many more students than at night), and Common Game hands and analysis. Our biggest and best is the opportunity to give more to charity.

The Unit 163 Board President (that’s me for my fifth and final year) challenged all the clubs to raise $1000 for charity. The unit board adopted Parkinson’s Foundation for its unit charity and also voted to include the ACBL fund games as well as choice or unit charities in the $1000 challenge. 

So, our charity giving is tripled. We gave generously to the Westminster food drive in October, November and December. Then in 2019, we started an even bigger campaign to raise money. For every charity game you hold for an ACBL charity, you can hold one for a choice charity. The ACBL charity games cost the club owner an extra $1 per person per game which all goes to one of the ACBL charities: Education Fund, Charity Fund, International Fund, Junior Fund or Grass Roots Fund. The Grass Roots Fund money stays in our district so I often choose that one. In January, February and March, I used all the ACBL charity games that I was allowed. We paid about $300 in extra fees. So, with those game requirements fulfilled, I could start holding choice charities. Our choice is the unit charity, Parkinson’s. We have three long time bridge players, Ray Heng, John Schmidt, and Roger Welty affected by this terrible disease. We held four choice charity games in March and will hold six in April. On those days, our food donation jar turns into a Parkinson’s donation jar. Our players have been very generous.

My new goal is to make that $1000 donation goal by the end of April. We already have almost 75%. Today’s date is April 10, so we have several more weeks to get to $1000. The unit will provide a party (cake and special treats) when we reach that goal. We won’t stop there. We will try for the next $1000. 

I am really grateful for the donations from you players. Your generosity has been amazing! Thank you so much! I believe in my heart that we can enjoy the best game in the world and use it as a vehicle for giving, too. 

In June, we will have The Longest Day, which is a big fund raiser for Alzheimer’s. Stay tuned for that.

Jim and MaryAnn Boardman