Non-Profit Profile:

Diabetes Care Educational Association in Cooperation with Detroit Red Wings Alimni Association at Big Beaver Tavern

The mission of Diabetes Care Educational Association (DCEA) is "To help people of all ages control diabetes through education." All the funds from the four day event hosted at the Big Beaver Tavern has been donated to the Red Wings Alumni Hockey Association who partners with DCEA.

One of the really fun parts of raising funds with the Red Wings Alumni is that Red Wings Alumni attend the events! John Ogrodnick was on site. Each day of the 4-day event, a different alumni came to play in the tournaments and cash games.

This was the third Texas Hold'em fundraiser DCEA had hosted in 2009. Renee Johnson and Burt Beauchamp were really impressed with the Big Beaver Tavern. Big Beaver is organized, offers a great atmosphere, nice bar and restaurant.

The charity volunteers sell tournament entries and poker chips for cash games. A ledger of the cash taken in and chips sold must be maintained in real time throughout the night. At the end of each night, the chips are cashed in by players, and all the books balanced.

Charities make money in two ways: 20% of the tournament entries, plus each cash game pot is "raked", 10% up to $6. (The rake is taken from each cash game pot before it is awarded to the winner of the pot.) UMichiganpoker.com visited the Diabetes Care / Red Wing Alumni Association on their third night at Big Beaver Tavern. From the number of tournament players, and cash games, this looked like it would be a profitable and fun fundraiser!

Here is a partial list of the other fundraisers Diabetes Care host each year:

• Celebrity Softball Game
• Texas Hold'em Fundraisers
• Golf Outings
• Showdown at Hockeytown
• Charity hockey games
• Dinners
• Celebrity Appearances