When the chips are down Friday at the Firespring Poker Open, it won’t be in the spirit of gambling or individual gain, but philanthropy.
Firespring, a Lincoln-based marketing firm, is hosting the poker tournament with the intent of procuring donations for its two teams, which will be competing in the Amazing Chase, an adventure-type race throughout Lincoln. This year’s Amazing Chase is the fifth race created by St. Monica’s, an organization that provides behavioral health services for women.
“We’ve had a team in every one,” said Randy Hawthorne, Firespring’s vice president of business development. “It’s a unique fundraising event. You get to learn a little bit about your city, while helping out an incredible cause.”
In the past, Firespring’s methods for raising money for the race have included bake sales and tailgate-style parties, but this year’s poker tournament was chosen as the means to reach the company’s goal of raising $2,500.
“Firespring has a group of people — the culture club — overseeing the culture of our company,” Hawthorne said. “We typically have monthly activities to ensure camaraderie among departments. Poker kept coming up as something people wanted to do, so we attached it to using the money for charity.”
The Poker Open will feature tournament-style Texas Hold ‘em play and free food and drinks (following a $20 buy-in). The event will be “professionally run” and open to the public, however, cash prizes will be limited, with most of the proceeds going to St. Monica’s.
“It’s another spin on fundraising,” said Sarah Robbins, a project manager at Firespring and a competitor in last year’s Amazing Chase. “A lot of people like to play cards. We’re pulling in a different crowd of people who wouldn’t normally donate.”
Firespring’s two competing teams of four, “Individuals of Exceptional Mental Aptitude” and “Beauty and the Geeks,” will receive equal shares of the money collected at the open. Robbins’ crew (Individuals of Exceptional Mental Aptitude) will vie for the Amazing Chase’s grand prize (a vacation at a condo on the beach in the Dominican Republic) against 29 other teams, including its Firespring counterpart, which includes Robbins’ husband, Andy. In Robbins’ eyes, this adds another element of fun and competition.
“I’m a pretty competitive person,” Robbins said with a laugh. “I want to win. I want him to win too, but I want to win.”
For St. Monica’s, the enduring support of local companies, like Firespring, is the difference between successfully aiding women in need and falling short of ideal treatment, said Wendy McCown, the organization’s director of development.
“Community support for St. Monica’s is pretty critical,” McCown said. “Teams, like Firespring, help to round out a woman’s treatment plan and set her and her children up for success.”
McCown is confident that the Poker Open will be one of many successful steps toward helping the Amazing Chase out-raise last year’s total of $62,000, she said.
“That’s what’s really great about this event,” McCown said. “People get so excited, they find really creative ways of raising money and awareness about St. Monica’s.”