Monday, January 16, 2017 • Financial News & Daily Record • Page A-9
Playing poker for a good cause
The Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section’s charity tournament drew a strong crowd to bestbet Jacksonville Thursday to raise money for Yoga 4 Change.
Michelle Suskauer, a candidate for president-elect of The Florida Bar, was happy to win a big pot.
Jesse Hollander, director of operations at bestbet, was master of ceremonies for the tournament.
Photos by Bobby King
By Kimberly Jones Chips 4 Change Committee member Since being founded in March 2014 by Kathryn Thomas, Yoga 4 Change has helped show Jacksonville residents how yoga can bring about positivity in life. The organization focuses on assisting veterans, incarcerated individuals, troubled youth and those suffering from substance abuse. In support of this important cause, The Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section hosted Chips 4 Change, a charity poker tournament at bestbet Jacksonville. Led by committee chairs Cyndy Trimmer (Driver, McAfee, Peek & Hawthorne), John Wallace (Lewis Longman Walker) and John Weedon (Hinshaw & Culbertson), the third annual event raised more than $6,000 to help Yoga 4 Change achieve its goal of reaching over 40,000 students in 2017. Participants had a chance to play against local celebrities or just stand back and observe the fun-filled tournament. The event featured celebrity bounties, including radio personality Mark Kaye; Duval County Clerk of Court Ronnie Fussell; Abel Harding, market president of IberiaBank; bestbet poker guru and radio host Allie McDeal; Florida Bar President-elect candidate Michelle Suskauer; First Coast news anchor Lewis Turner; and Mellow Mushroom owner John Valentino. Players in the Texas Hold ’Em tournament had some awesome prizes in their sights. They included a three-day trip to Las Vegas, a weekend at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa to enjoy the Cabana Club and a stay at the new Wyndham Garden Sebastian in St. Augustine. After a long, hard fight through the evening, the winners emerged as Keith Pearson from EverBank, Ellis Peetluk from Peetluk Law Firm and Will Gibbs from Akerman. This fantastic event would not have been possible without our devoted sponsors and committee members. Chips 4 Change was sponsored by Driver, McAfee, Peek & Hawthorne, Dawson | Orr and Smith Hulsey & Busey. Committee members included Tom White, Vincent Pulignano, Lauren Johnston, Caitlin Russell, David Thompson, Adina Pollan, Randy Richardson, Angela Scott, Erin Whitmore, Jamie Karpman, James Mooney and Grace Gamage.
Duval County Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell was one of the celebrity bounties.
Tournament organizer Cyndy Trimmer with winner Keith Pearson, Yoga 4 Change CEO Kathryn Thomas and Ellis Peetluck, who finished second. The event raised more than $6,000 for Yoga 4 Change.
Attorney Jamie Karpman concentrates on her next move.