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Almaden Business Association |
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Almaden Valley Businesses Joined Together |
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Wonderful, Unexpected Results from Cancellation of Texas Hold’em Benefit Event |
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Board members of the Almaden Business Association were thrilled to accept a generous donation from the Brandenburg Foundation for the Library Foundation. Shown from L-R; Rich De La Rosa, Carole Edman, Brandenburg Foundation board member Bill Baron, Rich Crowley, Edie Fehling, and Doug Keller, receiving a check from Lee Brandenburg, just outside the Children’s Storytime area of the new library. Photo by Kymberli Brady of the Almaden Times. |
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As many know, Texas Hold’em Poker has become a very popular form of entertainment. Within the last year alone, many tournaments have been run by a variety of organizations for fun and fundraising. Unfortunately, due to a last minute complaint received by the State Department of Justice, the ABA was forced to cancel our major fundraising event, which was intended to benefit the Children’s Storytime area of the new Almaden Public Library and Community Center, now under construction. We explored all options to allow us to continue, including multiple discussions with the DA’s Office. However, given the short time period, we felt this was the only appropriate course of action. More information about another event in the near future will be available and posted soon. All those who have sent in payments have been contacted by email. There have been numerous news stories with details about our event cancellation. We are pleased to announce that the publicity from this event, together with our earlier fundraising efforts, has enabled us to far exceed our initial $15,000 goal for the benefit of the Children’s Storytime Area of the new library. The ABA raised over $30,200 for the new library, including two extremely generous donations. A huge thank you to the Brandenburg Family Foundation, which presented the ABA with a check in the amount of $10,000 for the San Jose Public Library Foundation. ABA President-elect Rich De La Rosa presented the Brandenburg Foundation’s check to Eleanor Dickman of the San Jose Public Library Foundation at ABA’s November 3, 2005 meeting. The amount was unknown to almost everyone in the room. Eleanor's reaction, when she saw the amount on the check was...WOW!....then a second.. WOW!... as the ABA members and guests erupted in loud applause. It was a very special moment. This generous donation came about because of the media stories about ABA’s canceled benefit event. ABA would like to publicly thank Lee and Diane Brandenburg, and the Brandenburg Foundation for their never-ending commitment to our community. A special thank you also goes to Bill Baron, Brandenburg Foundation board member, for bringing our special cause to the attention of the Foundation.
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Another huge thanks goes to the San Jose Firefighter’s Association, who presented the ABA with a check for $1,000 for the Children’s Storytime area of the new library! Additional photos showing construction progress of the new library can be found on the Children’s Storytime Area Sponsorship page. Here are links to recent press stories about the event cancellation: San Jose Mercury News: State warns charities to fold-em San Jose Mercury News: Selective enforcement of poker rules hurts library |
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Looking at library plans |
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From left: Rich Crowley, Lee Brandenburg, Rich De La Rosa, and Brandenburg Foundation board member, Bill Baron |
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Brandenburg interview in the library |