The 5th Street Charity Ball

The Beginnig of a Charity Poker Event

Hello folks . I thought today I would talk a little bit about the Poker Charity Event that we at the House Forum host each month at PDC Poker or Carbon Poker if you prefer to play for a percentage of your rakeback . The game can be played at most any of the other rooms on the Merge Gaming Network as well, but I prefer to play where it all began . You can find the game by going to Tournaments > Private > Scheduled > 5th Street Charity Ball . You win this one and you get a cool shield as an accolade to show off at the tables !

Back in the very early days of the poker room (when it was still a part of www.poker.com) they had a charity event  that received little to no attention and the site soon stopped with the games . Personally I liked the games , but felt that the buy-in was a little steep for a majority of the players at the site with a buy-in at over $10.00 . The game fell during mid-week too , and was at a time that was very late for our European friends , so that didn't help draw a player base for this game at all . When they stopped the games a few folk that played the tournament on a regular basis got a bit upset , myself included . That lead to the beginning of Brad (Hacksaw2000 online) and I's friendship.....

Brad and I started talking a bit online and I'd tell him of my frustration with trying to get a Charity Event back on the site . At the time I think a lot of folk got tired of hearing about my frustrations  , but not Brad . We came up with the idea that if we just started our own forum , then we should be able to host our own Charity Poker Event . We'd have to work hard and get a membership base up of some good folk that would help promote such a game, and then just host our own  .

Well , to make a long story short , after banging heads until I got a hold of the right person at PDC Poker , we finally got the 5Th Street Charity Ball set up and rolling at the site in October of 06 . I've always felt for children that have it rough in life , and Brad having five children of his own has that same feeling....so we picked the Make a Wish Foundation as the charity to try and help.

I like to think that Brad and I have a tight bond because of all this... I've even drove a 3200 mile round trip just to visit the man , and it was almost like visiting family . It's lead to some other great online friendships as well . Wade79 , who has made banners for the game as well as our sites , Novice49 and Scotlady who has spread the word to who ever they could think of , and the Neo's ,Ramsters and Cerberi's and so on that you can always count on to play or promote the monthly game....Not to mention the other forums and web-sites that promote the game as well.  And I'll always be thankful to PDC Poker for letting us host the tournament ! .

Our forum has moved sites a few times due to one thing or another , and we've even went from the name "5th Street Forum" to the "House of Poker Blues" and then "MyPokerBlues" after I bought the domains . But that game will always be the 5th Street Charity Ball and it will always be played to try and help those children with a terminal illness that could stand a little happiness in their life's . You can always click here and make a donation if you'd like........

We host our monthly charity game on the first Saturday of each month , and after two years or there bouts I finally managed to win this one . I take more pride in winning that poker tournament than I do any other tournament that I have won . :-)

It's been a number of years now since the beginnings of the 5th Street Charity Ball, but I still get as excited about this charity event each month just as I did back in 2006 ! I hope others do as well and will keep letting all their friends know about this tournament .

And remember, you can find the Charity Tournament at the poker room by going to Tournaments > Private > Scheduled > 5th Street Charity Ball

 Sincerely,

Earl ( aka:Skinski )

Comments

[Brad aka Hacksaw2000]

well bud , its been a long road , we may not have a huge tourny every month , but we always get our regulars who are devoted to playing this game and to the kids, no matter what we will never stop trying to get this game bigger and raise more and more cash for the kids

The charity , as Earl said , hits home with me because i have 5 kids
Best of all this game has made me the best friend ive had in a lot of years :D

[novi aka Novice49]

Having had a really bad childhood myself. Not through terminal illness but other things. I love to support this charity and I don't think I have ever missed it in all the time I have known about it. Being a part of this event means so much to me and I love to support it as much as possible.

I feel honoured to know you and Brad. Earl, you have always been there for me and been a good friend to me. I am so happy for you that you have at last won this event. Not a worthier winner is there.

[Wade79]

Congratulations Earl. A very well deserved win and even more so given the hard work yourself and Brad have put into getting this tournament up and running!

[FullRushpoker]

I commend you guys on your charity event. I myself have wanted to hold a charity event and with National Breast Cancer awareness month approaching thought that it would be a fantastic charity to get behind. I can't even imagine the amount of work and effort that you all have put in and to be doing this for over 2 years in just fantastic. Keep up the great work you all are the best.

[Earl]

Thanks Noveltyman, feel free to promote this game if you would. We are always in need of another player for this one and I wish you the best of luck with yours. I think we just may be teaming up with yours if I understand my affiliate manager correctly . ;-)