Good Will Golf Tournament

Good Will Industries was hosting a golf tournament, followed by a silent auction fund raiser, so I created a little concession, I called, “Beat the Cheat.”

As the golfers came inside to bid on the auction items, I stood behind a poker table and challenged people to a game of head-to-head poker. I began with $100 of my own money and each time I lost, I would donate $20 to Good Will. Once I was out of money, the challenge was over. But if my opponent lost, they would make a $20 donation to Good Will. Win or lose we were supporting a good cause and Good Will Industries was the ultimate winner.

Their challenge was to beat the cheat. My job was to protect my $100 bankroll and raise as much money as possible for Good Will.

Over the course of two hours, I played 63 hands of poker, and lost only twice. Did I mention that I cheated a little?

Yes, everyone was forewarned that to ensure that we raise as much money as possible for Good Will, I would be taking a few liberties with the cards.

People came back over and over again just to try to catch me out, but no one ever did. On the surface, everything looked more than fair, yet over and over again, I would win on behalf of Good Will.

Of course, there were two occasions when my opponent did “beat the cheat” and I had to donate my own money, but since all the money was going to a good cause, I was more than happy to chip in.

Sometimes, even when you cheat, the cards don’t fall your way.

The best part of the evening came when we count my winnings, and discovered that it was just enough money to put them over the top for meeting their fund raising goal. Now that’s real magic!