January 27, 2010 > Tax deductible Poker tournament to aid disabled Tax deductible Poker tournament to aid disabled By Biff Jones Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) will be holding their seventh annual Poker Slam, benefiting athletes with disabilities. It is a no limit Texas Hold'em tournament, and will be on Saturday, February 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Scott's Seafood Restaurant in Jack London Square. A $100 donation - approximately $75 is tax deductible - includes an appetizer buffet, prizes and poker. There will also be a raffle and auction. All Poker Slam proceeds are used to support the travel and equipment needs of BORP's three power soccer teams (Bay Earthquakes, Division I; Crushes and Bombers, Division II). BORP teams are based out of Berkeley; one of the Division II teams is from Newark and they play their home games at Silliman Center. Poker skills are not necessary to play and have fun at the Slam. Win or lose, it is an evening full of exciting card action, good food, awesome auction, raffle and camaraderie. Please help support the three BORP teams by: 1. Registering as a poker player at www.borp.org 2. Donating a tax-deductible prize (for tournament, auction, raffle) 3. Making a tax-deductible donation to BORP (donate at www.borp.org) 4. Recruiting friends, family and colleagues to play 5. Some or all of the above BORP teams are coached by Chris Finn of San Leandro who also coached the U.S. National team that traveled to Tokyo a couple of years ago and brought home the gold medal in the World Power Soccer Cup. Next World Cup is scheduled for 2011 and the host will either be France or the United States. Finn chose twelve players at a tryout last November in Indianapolis for next year's USA World Cup Team They practiced in Atlanta earlier this month and the next practice is scheduled for the middle of April at either the Silliman Center or Berkeley. Power Soccer is a sport played by the disabled in motorized wheelchairs, four to a side including the goalie, plus substitutes. It is played with an over sized soccer ball on a basketball size hard court or parking lot. Poker tournament starts at about 6:30 p.m. If you register and send in your donation before February 1, you will get a free gift. For more information, call Chris Finn at (510) 667-0209, or Jonathan Newman at (510) 849-4663 x 304, fax (510) 849-4616 or e-mail jonathan@borp.org. Photos of BORP's teams in action and last year's Slam can be seen at: http://scotgoodman.smugmug.com/BORP. Poker tournament Saturday, February 6 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Scott's Seafood Restaurant Jack London Square 2 Broadway, Oakland Information: Chris Finn:(510) 667-0209 Jonathan Newman:(510) 849-4663 x 304