October 2022 - 14

Next are some regulars to the top 10: Charlotte (NC)
Bridge Association with $27,460 and Unit 498 & the
Peninsula Team in San Mateo CA with $25,098. After
reaching the top 10 for the first time last year, tiny Granbury
(TX) Bridge Club continues to outpull its weight,
placing eighth with $22,860. Another regular, Fort
Wayne (IN) DBC raised $20,862.
Fifteen other teams - the most ever - raised more than
$10,000: Fred's Bridge Club in Athens GA, $19,177;
Bridge Heroes in Fairfax VA, $18,058; Duke City
Bridge Club in Albuquerque NM, $16,305; Santa Barbara
Bridge, a country club social bridge group who joined
the cause last year, $14,330; the Bridge Community of
Southwest Florida, based in Bonita Springs, $14,044;
Unit 206 in Chattanooga TN, nearly doubling last year's
amount to $13,369; Jefferson Bridge Association in
Charlottesville VA, $11,859; Virginia Peninsula Unit
110, $11,688; Newtown (CT) Bridge Club, also doubling
to $11,562; San Diego Unit 539, $11,145; Okatie (SC)
DBC, $10,962; Durango (CO) DBC, $10,685; first-timers
Olympia (WA) DBC, $10,455; Unit 169 in Greensboro
NC, $10,121; and Canandaigua (NY) Bridge Club,
$10,084. The 25 teams who raised more than $10,000
collectively accounted for 74% of the ACBL total.
The silent auction table sits behind these players at the Evansville
(IN) DBC, which raised over $20,000.
After years of steadily climbing, Evansville (IN) DBC
raised $20,421 to reach 10th for the first time. The Evansville
team, led by Phil and Candy Roscoe, focuses on engaging
with the local business community and organizing
group outings to local restaurants following regular club
games, in thanks for past gifts of gift cards or baskets and
in solicitation of new ones. Gift cards from restaurants,
spas, golf clubs, stores, gyms, etc., are placed in a silent
auction along with handmade artwork contributed by
members and opportunities to play with the local experts.
They get started in April, allowing time for getting past
red tape in securing corporate donations.
Two personal stories motivate them: a club member
who died of Alzheimer's and another whose husband is
currently afflicted, said Phil Roscoe. " We firmly believe
we are successful because of the early preparation, the
enthusiasm of club members and the worthiness of the
cause. "
The top 25
Jefferson Bridge Association in Charlottesville VA raised $11,859.
Many of these are consistently strong fundraisers, but
a few are reaching these heights for the first time. For the
Chattanooga team, led by Mary Robertson, they usually
raise $6000-$7000. Enthusiastic about returning to
face-to-face bridge, they set a goal of $9000. Robertson
conducted a weeklong raffle to win a free play, collecting
$600, ending just before the week of The Longest Day.
As the day drew near, she announced in an email to the
club that they were short of the goal. One member wrote a
check to cover the difference, and others piled on.
" Being empathetic about dementia and Alzheimer's
Chattanooga Unit 206 raised $13,369.
14 | Bridge Bulletin | October 2022
is an easy thing for many of our club members to do, as
some card players decided to learn a serious game to help
stave off dementia and keep their mental faculties alert, "
Robertson said. " Others are caregivers of loved ones with
either condition. Others grieve the loss of someone who
suffered from this horrible disease. "
The Greensboro unit had its best Longest Day ever, raising
20% more than last year despite an uptick in COVID
October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2022
