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Local charity cashes in on wager
'Robin Hood' of poker turns a dare into a way to help Children Inc.
BY BILL LOHMANN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Mar. 3, 2007
  
   
Without playing a card, Children Inc. hit the jackpot.Online poker players around the world have donated more than $20,000 to the Richmond-based charity this week, paying off a friendly wager among themselves. The money was still coming in yesterday."We are amazed and overjoyed at the response from the poker community," said CI spokeswoman Liz Sauer.To some, the situation might seem a paradox: a charity founded by the daughter of a Presbyterian minister that distributes $4 million annually to more than 16,000 needy children around the world receiving money from gamblers. But CI officials said generosity is generosity and money is money -- and poker is legal -- so they are gladly accepting the contributions and will put them to good use."These people want to do something good, and we are happy to help them do something good," said Sauer, who noted the $20,000 would enable CI to sponsor 60 children for a full year.The ringleader of this wave of bigheartedness is Barry Greenstein, a well-known poker player who has been dubbed the Robin Hood of poker for his custom of donating his tournament winnings to charity. Greenstein is no stranger to CI, which has been one of the beneficiaries of his generosity in the past decade. He's donated more than $1.5 million to the organization, according to his Web site. He also sponsors seven children through CI, said Sauer.Greenstein's most recent largesse directed to CI began as a wager -- sort of a double-dog-dare-you -- among the 2+2 Forums online poker community (www.twoplustwo.com). If other players promised to make contributions to CI, Greenstein vowed to say "LOL donkaments" during a televised poker tournament. The phrase is an online expression that, according to a discussion board on the 2+2 Web site, pokes fun at the poor skill level of some tournament players by combining the words "donkey" and "tournament." In Internet lingo, LOL means "laugh out loud."In an episode of "High Stakes Poker," aired Monday on GSN, Greenstein uttered the phrase. The money started rolling into CI on Tuesday morning."One of the [donation] process- ing ladies asked me, 'What's going on? We're being inundated with these donations, and they're all referencing Barry Greenstein,'" said Sauer. "I asked her how many did she have, thinking maybe five or10, and she held up a stack of papers."So far, more than 200 donations have come in this week, ranging from $20 to $2,000, from across America and other places as farflung as Australia and Slovenia."We're just thrilled these people want to help our children," she said.In an interview at www.pokerlizard.com, Greenstein said he got involved with CI as a result of "bad parenting.""I had spoiled my kids and I was trying to show them that other kids aren't as fortunate as they are," said Greenstein, 52, a father of six who lives in California. "I wanted to sponsor a boy and a girl the same ages as my two youngest children."He didn't care for the overtly religious approach of many charities feeding, sheltering and educating poor children around the world, but he liked CI, which, though clearly guided by Christian principles, is not religiously affiliated.CI has "many religious people working for them, but that isn't their agenda," Greenstein said on Poker Lizard, adding that more people need to realize "you can have good morals and ethics even if you're not religious" Contact staff writer Bill Lohmann at blohmann@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6639.

The “Robin Hood” of poker and his “Merry Men” strike again!Forgive us at Children, Incorporated if we sound rather giddy on the phone this week.  Monday, February 25th, world poker player – Barry Greenstein – initiated a wave of generous donations to Children, Incorporated. To date, we have processed a total of $36,532 donated by the players of the 2+2 Forums.  The amount changes by the minute as staffers of Children, Incorporated frantically try to keep up.  What a wonderful problem to have!  “We estimate we have already received over 200 contributions ranging from $20 to $1500 each and more coming in as I write this. This is incredible!” commented Children, Incorporated CEO, Marian Cummins.All funds donated by the players of the 2+2 Forums will be used to assist the children on our program who are waiting to be sponsored.  We at Children, Incorporated cannot express enough our gratitude to all of you associated with the 2+2 Forums.  Your generosity will provide children all over the world with food, clothing, school supplies, school tuition, and healthcare.  We are forever grateful for your investment in the future of our children.

Children, Incorporated brings hope to children living in the nation’s poorest city - Motown We are happy to announce the expansion of our Inner City Division to include 4 elementary schools in Detroit, Michigan. Ranked as the nation’s poorest city with an unemployment rate around 15%, Detroit has long been known for its ill-fated dependence on the automotive industry. This unhealthy relationship has left the city more vulnerable to economic downturns than other larger U.S. cities. The children pay the price of such vulnerability. Nearly half of the children in Detroit live below the national poverty level and reside in impoverished homes. Little more than 20% complete high school. This is why we felt drawn to assist the children of Detroit. With your help, Children, Incorporated can bring hope to these children. Your sponsorship can provide school supplies, clothing and hygiene items to one of our country’s neediest children. Click here to assist an inner city child in Detroit.

60 Children receive assistance as a result of Children, Incorporated’s first event! Children, Incorporated’s inaugural event was a great success. The February 10th “Share in their Future” silent auction raised over $20,000 making it possible for us to assist 60 children for one year. The auction also helped increase awareness within our own community of Richmond, Virginia as to the mission of Children, Incorporated. Fun was had by all and many a lucky bidder went home with original works of art by CI children and local and regional artists. A big “Thank You” to our event sponsors, Dominion, CBS-6, The Trust Company of Virginia, Madison & Main, Recruiting Resources, Inc., and Walker’s Heating & A/C. The funds raised will support 60 children for one year while they are waiting to be sponsored.