Pro Player Travel Fund

jay helfert

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
Kind of lost on the front page is a story about three women who received help from this fund to travel to the current Women's World Championships in China. Angel Paglia, Julie Kelly and Monica Webb received more than $2,000 in total awards, to assist them with travel expenses. This fund was established by AZ Billiards in 2008 for the express purpose of assisting American players in traveling internationally.

By the way, Julie Kelly is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Vivian Villarreal and Sarah Rousey were also offered help with their expenses and turned it down, saying it was not necessary. That also is commendable. Hat's off to AZ for what they are doing to help American pool players. Diamond Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Predator Cues and OB Cues also contributed money to this fund. Hopefully it will serve as an example for other entities in the pool world.
 
Last edited:
jay helfert said:
Kind of lost on the front page is a story about three women who received help from this fund to travel to the current Women's World Championships in China. Angel Paglia, Julie Kelly and Monica Webb received more than $2,000 in total awards, to assist them with travel expenses. This fund was established by AZ Billiards in 2008 for the express purpose of assisting American players in traveling internationally.

By the way, Julie Kelly is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Vivian Villarreal and Sarah Rousey were also offered help with their expenses and turned it down, saying it was not necessary. That also is commendable. Hat's off to AZ for what they are doing to help American pool players. Diamond Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Predator Cues and OB Cues also contributed money to this fund. Hopefully it will serve as an example for other entities in the pool world.
Click to expand...


Sarah turned it down? Damn. Medical Billing is the place to be!

She is in Asia for 5 weeks-starting in China-then the Philippines and then back to China. I looked at doing the same but it was gonna be $6-$8k. Had to pass.
 
Very cool.

Thanks for pointing this out, Jay. And a big AttaBoy to AZBilliards and all the contibuting sponsors. Nicely done. This is good stuff.
 
Last edited:
My understanding is that Sarah turned it down so it could go to someone who really needs it. That's super classy right there! She's a great ambassador for our country.
 
jay helfert said:
Kind of lost on the front page is a story about three women who received help from this fund to travel to the current Women's World Championships in China. Angel Paglia, Julie Kelly and Monica Webb received more than $2,000 in total awards, to assist them with travel expenses. This fund was established by AZ Billiards in 2008 for the express purpose of assisting American players in traveling internationally.

By the way, Julie Kelly is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Vivian Villarreal and Sarah Rousey were also offered help with their expenses and turned it down, saying it was not necessary. That also is commendable. Hat's off to AZ for what they are doing to help American pool players. Diamond Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Predator Cues and OB Cues also contributed money to this fund. Hopefully it will serve as an example for other entities in the pool world.
Click to expand...

Very nice of Viv and Sarah. Three of my favorite players received help so a BIG Thank You to Mike and Jerry.I didn't even know Julie had applied for US citizenship. Julie....welcome to the future tax nightmare that is America!

Now I need to save up a little extra and donate to build the fund back up.
 
The fund is an admiral thing AZB is doing for pool. I book my Red Roof Inn rooms through this website to help the fund. Its nice to know that the money is being put to good use.
 
Last edited:
that is the spirit!

Tbeaux said:
Very nice of Viv and Sarah. Three of my favorite players received help so a BIG Thank You to Mike and Jerry.I didn't even know Julie had applied for US citizenship. Julie....welcome to the future tax nightmare that is America!

Now I need to save up a little extra and donate to build the fund back up.
Click to expand...

That is the spirit!! Most people ignore that little check box on the tax return that allows you to give more than you owe. I think you may be the only person that admits doing so. I do check to dedicate a dollar to the election campaigns, I figure that is one less dollar the politicians have to go out and steal.

Hu
 
The AZ Pro Fund is a great cause that anyone who enjoys AZ can get behind and donate something to help.
 
ShootingArts said:
That is the spirit!! Most people ignore that little check box on the tax return that allows you to give more than you owe. I think you may be the only person that admits doing so. I do check to dedicate a dollar to the election campaigns, I figure that is one less dollar the politicians have to go out and steal.

Hu
Click to expand...

LOL :grin:
Sorry, I meant the "gotta get to a tournament pool player fund". Obamas gonna have to pry extra bucks from my cold dead hand!:grin:
 
Can any pro pool player request to get funds to travel internationally?
For example if Louis Ullrich or Brandon Shuff wanted to go to the Philippines to play a world tournament but didn't have sufficient funds to pay for travel expenses, could he submit a request? I'd like to know more about these details as I know there are a lot of struggling top ranked american players who need assistance and my not know that there are programs like this that may help.
 
mrinsatiable said:
Can any pro pool player request to get funds to travel internationally?
For example if Louis Ullrich or Brandon Shuff wanted to go to the Philippines to play a world tournament but didn't have sufficient funds to pay for travel expenses, could he submit a request? I'd like to know more about these details as I know there are a lot of struggling top ranked american players who need assistance and my not know that there are programs like this that may help.
Click to expand...

AzHousePro (Mike Howerton) or Jerry Forsythe would need to answer this.
 
jay helfert said:
Kind of lost on the front page is a story about three women who received help from this fund to travel to the current Women's World Championships in China. Angel Paglia, Julie Kelly and Monica Webb received more than $2,000 in total awards, to assist them with travel expenses. This fund was established by AZ Billiards in 2008 for the express purpose of assisting American players in traveling internationally.

By the way, Julie Kelly is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Vivian Villarreal and Sarah Rousey were also offered help with their expenses and turned it down, saying it was not necessary. That also is commendable. Hat's off to AZ for what they are doing to help American pool players. Diamond Billiards, Brunswick Billiards, Predator Cues and OB Cues also contributed money to this fund. Hopefully it will serve as an example for other entities in the pool world.
Click to expand...

Hey Jay this is Ray Martin you seem to be the man to answer questions do the players still get 2% for the videos they are in .
 
ghostball said:
Hey Jay this is Ray Martin you seem to be the man to answer questions do the players still get 2% for the videos they are in .
Click to expand...


Hey Ray, all I know is that Accu-Stats pays them a small percentage on any DVD they appear in. I believe Pat pays these commissions annually. I don't know what arrangement the live stream guys make with the players, when they sell DVD's afterwards.
 
sammspocket said:
My understanding is that Sarah turned it down so it could go to someone who really needs it. That's super classy right there! She's a great ambassador for our country.
Click to expand...

HUGE amen to this! You're a pretty good ambassador yourself Samm! :grin-square:
 
mrinsatiable said:
Can any pro pool player request to get funds to travel internationally?
For example if Louis Ullrich or Brandon Shuff wanted to go to the Philippines to play a world tournament but didn't have sufficient funds to pay for travel expenses, could he submit a request? I'd like to know more about these details as I know there are a lot of struggling top ranked american players who need assistance and my not know that there are programs like this that may help.
Click to expand...

Strictly in terms of Return on Investment the fund would surely get more value backing players like Brandon and Louis rather than pouring money into players with a minimalistic chance of cashing against the multitude of Asian cuesses. Not sexist, just realistic.

The US only sent one player to the UAE for the World 8 Ball this year, while Brandon who had won the right to go the previous year (when the event was cancelled) did not get a chance to play.
 
jay helfert said:
Hey Ray, all I know is that Accu-Stats pays them a small percentage on any DVD they appear in. I believe Pat pays these commissions annually. I don't know what arrangement the live stream guys make with the players, when they sell DVD's afterwards.
Click to expand...

Yes that is the way it was in my time,but sometimes you had to call and say where the money,thanks for the input.
RAY
 
Who can qualify for PPTF loans

The fund is set up to replace the BCA stipend that was used to fund our players to Worlds Championships. Only players who are invited due to their rankings to World Championship events are eligible for loans. AZB would love to be in the position of being able to fund all professional overseas travel but at the moment the fund is down to about $500 and money is not exactly pouring in. Most 'loans' are not required to be fully repaid and the funds go out much more quickly than they come in. The BCA helps tremendously with this effort by holding and dispersing the funds from a tax-free account. There are also BCA members who are interested in re-establishing the BCA stipend once the economy turns enough to allow that.

Our thanks go out to all who have donated to the fund.
 
pro9dg said:
Strictly in terms of Return on Investment the fund would surely get more value backing players like Brandon and Louis rather than pouring money into players with a minimalistic chance of cashing against the multitude of Asian cuesses. Not sexist, just realistic.

The US only sent one player to the UAE for the World 8 Ball this year, while Brandon who had won the right to go the previous year (when the event was cancelled) did not get a chance to play.
Click to expand...

my time will come :wink: im just sittin back relaxin with my passport LOL
 
Last edited:
Thats exactly the attitude that is required to ensure that Master Shuff needs to get a shot in the majors. He would be a PR dream.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top