Hope Haven Shelter

I recently received a letter from a friend of mine, Steve Jewett, who is one of the organizers of MARGE, which is a get-together of poker players who have become acquainted over the Internet. There are many locations for these "ARGE" events throughout the country, but the common link is that the attendees enjoy poker and poker competitions. I am printing his letter here in hope that it might help generate donations for the Hope Haven Shelter.

Dear Linda,

Knowing how much you supported the formation of all the "ARGE" events that have sprung up over the years, I thought you might have an interest in something that has occurred at MARGE (the Mississippi Autumn Rec. Gambling Excursion) the past two years.

One of the attendees at the first MARGE event was a retired naval gentleman from New Jersey, Ken "Robbie" Roberts. He was one of those unique people who loved people. When you met Robbie, you had made a new friend. His dry wit and upbeat personality kept everyone around him in a great mood. Robbie came to the first two MARGE events and to the first SARGE (Southern Area Rec. Gambling Excursion) event. It wasn't until we started to organize the second SARGE event that we learned he had been quietly battling throat cancer throughout this whole time. The radiation treatments had taken such a toll that he didn't feel up to coming to Tunica for SARGE II.

That summer, Randy Collack, one of the event organizers, received an e-mail from Robbie's son informing him that our friend had quietly succumbed to the cancer. Randy posted the news of Robbie's passing to the MARGE and SARGE e-mail lists. The overwhelming responses to this posting really showed how many lives this man had touched.

That summer when Randy and I started to organize MARGE III, we decided we wanted to do something that would honor Robbie's memory. So, we formed the "Robbie Fund" and started to take pledges from the poker players who were going to attend the upcoming MARGE event. Because Robbie loved children, we made the first recipient of the Robbie Fund the local Toys for Tots program. Combining the pledges we received via e-mail and the funds we were able to collect at MARGE, I was able to write a check for $1,200 to Toys for Tots.

It was very gratifying to see how well-accepted the Robbie Fund was by the players, and it really seemed to bring us closer together. Because of this, Randy and I decided to make the Robbie Fund a permanent part of MARGE. Last year at MARGE IV, we raised almost $2,000 via e-mail pledges and monies collected during the event. The chosen recipient was a poker room shift manager who works at Grand Casino in Biloxi, where MARGE is held, who also was battling cancer.

This year, we formed an informal board of directors for the Robbie Fund, mainly because we needed fresh ideas and more bodies to split up the workload. We got an early start this year, and after a month of searching, we think we have found the perfect recipient for this year's Robbie Fund, and maybe a permanent recipient. The Hope Haven Shelter (www.hopehaveshelter.org/) for abused children in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, provides care and shelter for abused and neglected kids.

After deciding on this year's recipient, Randy posted our decision to the MARGE e-mail list recently. Immediately, I started receiving e-mails pledging monies from players, and so far in the 10 days since Randy's post, we have pledges totaling $1,226. Our goal is $2,500, a sum that we have been informed will run the entire summer program of outings for the 90 or so children that are in Hope Haven's care at any given time. I even received a check from a poker player in Las Vegas who has never been to MARGE but had heard about the Robbie Fund from someone in his poker discussion group.

The Robbie Fund has proven something I've always felt … that poker players are generous people who are quick to lend a hand to those in need.

Best regards,

Steve Jewett

Change of subject: The World Poker Players Conference is July 11. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, you should plan to attend this full day of poker seminars. Your bankroll will benefit!