April 2020 - 34

➤ The Gift of Charity

continued from pg. 22

donating the money saved toward the war effort. One of
McKenney's major initiatives was the War Orphans Scholarship fund. "Buy a Bomber" aimed to raise $1 million in war
bond sales. Special games and auctions were held, and kibitzing rights were sold at national tournaments. More than
$265,000 was raised at the 1943 Summer National alone.
Throughout McKenney's tenure as the League's executive
secretary, the "ears" beside the Bulletin flag on pg. 1 - the
boxed messages that sandwich the name of the publication
- publicized the philanthropic side of bridge: "Have a Heart
- Take a Hand," "Devoted to Bridge and Charity," "Buying
Bonds Buys Bombers," "Remember the children of those
who fight and die while we play." McKenney retired in the
fall of 1947. The ears beside the first Bulletin flag in 1948
signaled, if not a change of heart, perhaps a diversification of
message: "Good Bridge Wins Master Points."
In 1964, the ACBL Charity Foundation was incorporated
to manage funds received through donations and charity
games for donation to a national charity. Anywhere from
$100,000 to $250,000 was raised annually for causes such
as the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and the
National Diabetes Association.
In 2005, an effort to respond to community-based needs,
the Foundation began distributing grant funds to the 25
districts in 2005. In a four-year cycle, districts are allocated
$30,000 for disbursement.
Additionally, the local committee for each North American Bridge Championship receives a $5000 grant, and each
of the district directors not serving as a Charity Foundation

William McKenney (second from left) and soldiers during World War II

trustee is allotted $1000 a year to support the qualified charity of their choice. For more information about the Charity
Foundation and applying for a grant, go to acbl.org/charity.
In 2013, the ACBL got behind a great humanitarian cause
in a way that would make McKenney proud. The Longest
Day, an annual fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association,
has amassed more than $6 million to support caregivers
and fund research. Not unlike America's Card Party in 1939,
clubs go all out with tremendous imagination, planning and
execution. This year, clubs can select any day between June
17 and June 24 for their Longest Day charity games.
Somewhere along the way, "Have a Heart - Take a Hand"
got lost as the ACBL's permanent slogan on behalf of its
work for humanitarian causes, but McKenney's charitable
heart still beats strong.
◾

Bill Michael 1970-2020
From Unit 360's KIBITZER
On Jan. 2, Unit 360 lost a wonderful director. At the very young age of 49, Bill Michael passed away from the
effects of his many health issues of the last few years. He had been at club games from the age of 1, when he would
play or sleep in the corner of the room while his mother, Pam, directed her games. He became a bridge-playing
member at about 14, playing with Jack Wells' daughter. When he turned 16, he became an official ACBL director
and was the youngest to ever do so at that time. He left the bridge world for several years while pursuing other
interests, but came back to directing 16 years ago, not just at our club, but at regional and NABC tournaments as
well. Bill held the rank of Associate National TD.
Bill, the consummate computer geek, taught Max Hardy, the well known TD and inventor of 2/1, how to use a computer. Max
thought computers were just a passing fancy and only consented to learn from Bill under great protestations. That was the beginning
of the end of hand scoring at tournaments and clubs, saving time and energy while increasing accuracy. He did the same thing with
Unit 360, convincing our club that computers were the way to go. Many people have never played without the computer-assisted
games - this was huge!
Bill was a brilliant director. He knew the rules inside and out and did everything he could to make the game flow well. One could be
assured that when Bill was called to your table for any reason, the rulings were by the book and that equity would be restored. One
could always rely on accurate results and his games being on time.
How many times did one hear, "I'll have to ask Bill about that when he gets back"? He had the answers and was happy to help players
learn and become better. He gave director refresher courses so our other directors would also continue to improve. He worked long
and hard to make bridge better for everyone. Bill was an integral part of our bridge world and will long be missed.

34 Bridge Bulletin April 2020

http://www.acbl.org/charity

April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2020