Signature event raises more than $30,000

Joseph San, Marc Rosenthal, James Baron, Connor Cafferty

JAFCO had great success with its inaugural Poker Tournament in 2017, and now the organization placed a wager that the second one would be even better – and it was. The event drew over 80 men ready to bet on having a great time. The event raised over $30,000 to support JAFCO’s initiatives.

JAFCO has developed a well-deserved reputation for drawing hundreds of women to its sold-out luncheons for abused and neglected children and those with developmental disabilities. This time it was the men’s turn to go “all in.” The All In forJAFCO Men’s Poker Night was held on Thursday, November 15, at the JAFCO Children’s Ability Center and featured a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament.

“We wanted to create a signature event for the men who support JAFCO,” said Jessica Stein, Senior Development Associate at JAFCO. “We had wonderful participation – and a lot of fun – at the Poker Tournament, and we are delighted to have raised over $30,000 to support the incredible work that JAFCO does every day. There were some great winners at the tournament, but we know, it’s the children who win big.”

The night began with registration, dinner and drinks at 6:30 p.m., and card play at 7:30 p.m. throughout the night, players had access to a high-end pub food, an open bar and a chance to win prizes including a three day, four night trip to Atlantis Paradise Island. Once the poker games ended, the card tables turned over to blackjack tables.

The Children’s Ability Center opened its doors in 2014 to meet a vital unmet need in South Florida for family enrichment, support and respite care for families raising a child ages birth to 22 with any developmental disability. The center services hundreds of children a month, offering families a beautiful, clean and fun place where their children can be safe and feel like they belong. Services include assessment, enhanced case management and referral, social skills and life skills training, after school and weekend clubs including music therapy, drama, organic gardening and social play, support groups for moms, dads, siblings and grandparents, parent training and education, summer camp and family fun days. The Children’s Ability Center offers families respite care where children can spend a day, weekend or up to two weeks of overnight fun experiences – allowing parents to take a short break. The Ability Center is now a research institute in partnership with Nova Southeastern University who is studying the impact that these programs and services are having on the strength of the family unit.

For more information about the event, JAFCO or the Children’s Ability Center, please contact JAFCO Development Associate Jessica Stein at 954-315-8698 or JStein@jafco.org.

About JAFCO:

JAFCO is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization established in 1992 to provide services to abused and neglected children and those with developmental disabilities in South Florida.

Children’s Ability Center Chairman of the Board Fred Katzin, Poker co-chair Perry Isenberg, Aaron Goldberg and Poker co-chair Jim Orleans

Myron Levy and Eric Levy

Matthew Custage and David Berke

Michael Obrand and Larry Melcer

Stuart Rader and Marcus Corwin

Gary Mintz, Jarred Elmar, Brian Nelson, Aaron Goldberg and Steve Fields

Sean Fetterman and Mark Rothberg

Shelli Gold, Stacy Mager, Larry Robinson, Janet Epstein and Jessica Stein