On the Town: Boys & Girls Club bets on poker event

Poker faces abounded as supporters of the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and the Greater East Valley staged their annual Texas Hold ’Em Poker and Bingo Tournament at New Woody’s Cafe on the Woodbury University campus recently.

Poker-and-bingo-playing backers of the organization began the evening with a pizza dinner before the main event. Welcomed by Shanna Warren, who serves as the club’s chief executive, and Brittany Vaughan, director of operations, more than 100 supporters enjoyed the evening that raised vitally needed funds.

Among those who made last week’s fundraiser a success were the club’s board President Lorrie Copeland, and board officers and members Dan Stillwell, Joan Ortiz, Sally Knutson, Lynn White Shelby, Kimberly Abesamis, Dave Augustine, Michelle Bouse, Garett Chipman, Michael Dragan, Bret Hannifin, Paul Herman, Susan Kim, Leena Mathew, Mathew Poage, Sherine Saad-Anderson, Joe Santos, Al Shapiro, Riad Sleiman, Michael Walbrecht and Terry Walker.

Others whose presence and work contributed to the evening were Pat Augustine, Nat and Alma Rubinfeld, Dean Shelby, Barry Gussow, Donna Anderson, local club staff members Mira Shah, Susan Sebastian, Lianne DePino, Jay Jackson, Sherry DeLizia, Madison Donnelly, Kevin Bulone, Paul Pendarvis and Adam Bell as well as Jazmin Erving, who coordinates the club’s special events.

Since 1995, the local Boys & Girls Club has touched the lives of thousands of local children and their families, providing regular programming as well as affordable after-school and summer programs.

With more than 1,600 kids being served on a daily basis at the club’s main facility and its additional 18 local sites, a community and culture of caring has been created that has enabled members to participate in educational, athletic and artistic programs, including performing arts, homework assistance, tutoring, college prep and leadership training.

The club also offers a specialized program for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and teens, and its policy is to never turn a child away for an inability to pay.

Always in need of financial support to continue and expand its low- and no-cost programs, donations can be made by visiting bgcburbank.org.

--

DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.