Support our Young players

dmcwhirk

Registered
So there are 9 young adults who have qualified to represent the USA in a world championship tournament (2014 BEF Jr 9Ball World Championship in Shanghair China) and there's absolutely NO financial assistance??? There were benefit challenge matches in Vegas for BEF, where's this money? No more chaparones so parents have to buy additional airfare. Each youth and their family must come up with at least $4k...one family has 2 kids that qualified. And their supposed to raise $8k?? This is a joke and isn't fair. There are no corporate sponsors. If one holds a national tournament..one should provide some kind of assistance. Their news releases make it sound like they're helping out, they're not. The top 3 best chances to win the title in the name of the USA may not even make it there. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how to help these kids and their families to minimize their cost. They were under the assumption going in there would be help.
 
So there are 9 young adults who have qualified to represent the USA in a world championship tournament (2014 BEF Jr 9Ball World Championship in Shanghair China) and there's absolutely NO financial assistance??? There were benefit challenge matches in Vegas for BEF, where's this money? No more chaparones so parents have to buy additional airfare. Each youth and their family must come up with at least $4k...one family has 2 kids that qualified. And their supposed to raise $8k?? This is a joke and isn't fair. There are no corporate sponsors. If one holds a national tournament..one should provide some kind of assistance. Their news releases make it sound like they're helping out, they're not. The top 3 best chances to win the title in the name of the USA may not even make it there. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how to help these kids and their families to minimize their cost. They were under the assumption going in there would be help.

there is a web sight called gofundme.com and it will link to facebook and other networks. i think if you start a fundraising campain there it will raise the money you need. Pm me the link if you set it up and i will be the first to donate to the fundraiser. I wish them luck and hope the funds become available.
 
Do we know how much money per player needs to be raised to send them to Shanghai for this world tournament?

I do want to see USA represented in this event! I want the world to see that even though American pool has not been the best organized officially, the pool playing community stands behind these young players. I want these passionate and talented young pool players to have the opportunity to compete in the global stage, and know that when they step up to the table in Shanghai, they know there are fans back home supporting them 100%.

Can we petition to have the ABR podcast crew interview and profile each of these young players? Just to bring more awareness to them and to this world tournament...

And how to we help fund this team of youths? Who is leading this group, if anyone? If we want to donate to the cause, who do we contact and how best to do it?

Ideas???
 
Airfare alone is about $1300 each, parent and child....at this point in time anyway. I am working with a local player to help minimize the cost for his parents. We have had food fundraisers, 50/50 raffles and shooting contests which has raised about $850. I do not know what the other families have raised but I know they aren't close either. There is not one person spearheading group fundraising but you could reach out to the BEF themselves. We are in discussions with a well known pro player to do some kind of benefit for all the kids but nothing official yet. I can look into starting a group fundraising site to split funds among all the kids. Giveforward allows donors to pay the fee so 100% of the funds are actually recieved. It's a pretty good deal. I'll post more when I know. This has all really just started coming together in the past few weeks.
 
I would love to see the players make it to China and know that they have the support of their country and pool community. Its really a damn shame that they have to worry about stuff like this and it is crippling pool in America more than it already is. How are we supposed to get pool up and going again if we can't do anything for the future of pool by supporting the youth. Feel free to PM me and I will do everything I can to help out. I have some skills in web development, maybe we can make a sight for them or something.
 
Our area is having a fundraiser for the two kids that are qualified to go from MA (although one of them is technically from NJ, he plays in the junior league out of MA), I think we're having it Oct 25th and will probably be at the Billiards Cafe in Ayer MA.

I've tried before to get people to come by from here that live in my area for other fund raisers in the past but no luck so far.

I do know that one of the parents can afford to go pretty easily, plus they are from China to begin with so it's an easy trip for them relatively to others at least. We were able to raise about $3,000 for the Junior Nationals trip for our group of kids, I hope we can get the same for the Worlds for them.

I am very exited for the two youngsters that made it from our local room.
 
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I looked at the site and it seems to be a well put together venture, but something caught my eye that doesn't make sense. Under player profiles there are only a handful of kids. How would an interested, potential sponsor know how many kids are involved, which ones are local, and have any way to contact parents for potential sponsorship?
 
This is great! At least things are in motion and these two youngsters ('m guessing Samuel and Michelle?) have some support from the local community.

I have contacted BEF and provided my contact info to be passed along to all the families. If you are friends with them/their families feel free to send my info their way (check your PM) too.

My starting point would be to learn more about these players (perhaps via interviews and write-ups) and bring awareness to their passion and talent.

Please keep us posted on the efforts in your community.

Our area is having a fundraiser for the two kids that are qualified to go from MA (although one of them is technically from NJ, he plays in the junior league out of MA), I think we're having it Oct 25th and will probably be at the Billiards Cafe in Ayer MA.

I've tried before to get people to come by from here that live in my area for other fund raisers in the past but no luck so far.

I do know that one of the parents can afford to go pretty easily, plus they are from China to begin with so it's an easy trip for them relatively to others at least. We were able to raise about $3,000 for the Junior Nationals trip for our group of kids, I hope we can get the same for the Worlds for them.

I am very exited for the two youngsters that made it from our local room.
 
So glad you also feel passionate about this... Good idea about something like a website - hold that thought!

I would love to see the players make it to China and know that they have the support of their country and pool community. Its really a damn shame that they have to worry about stuff like this and it is crippling pool in America more than it already is. How are we supposed to get pool up and going again if we can't do anything for the future of pool by supporting the youth. Feel free to PM me and I will do everything I can to help out. I have some skills in web development, maybe we can make a sight for them or something.
 
I looked at the site and it seems to be a well put together venture, but something caught my eye that doesn't make sense. Under player profiles there are only a handful of kids. How would an interested, potential sponsor know how many kids are involved, which ones are local, and have any way to contact parents for potential sponsorship?

There should be 8 going total, 2 from each sex and age category.

I know there are two going from MA (one from NJ but he plays out of a room in Ayer MA).

Do you happen to have anything you can offer for the kids for a raffle maybe?

I know you did a cue for TAR and you're in major demand when making cues, but think you can send something to each of the areas for an auction or raffle, maybe split the proceeds with you or something?

If you're interested, send me a PM, I am involved in the Jr League in MA where two kids got spots at Worlds.
 
Stay tuned... This has now gotten the attention of the BEF and other interested parties, and more details about supporting these young players will come soon.

Thanks.
 
For anyone who is interested in helping Team USA Juniors -

Jeanette Lee and her Black Widow Foundation will partner with BEF to help raise funds for these kids to go to Shanghai, China for the Junior World Championship.

It's great that somebody like Jeanette Lee is showing interest... She's probably the most well known and media savvy pro pool player there is, and she sincerely cares about investing in pool's future.

Check out details and donate here. Help spread the word too!
 
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