Non-profit service organizations like Udavum Karangal, for most part depend on contributions by donors at all levels. It could be time spent actively providing the services offered by the organizations, financial assistance via charitable donations, volunteering efforts to raise awareness about the organizations, etc. There is an ever present need from organizations like these and there is an inherent ability in human beings to help others in need. Any platform that brings these two together will result in very powerful long term relationship that enriches the lives of both the parties involved.

In an effort to provide such a platform, Udavum Karangal of USA (Boston chapter) hosted their first annual charity poker event aptly named 'Diwali Poker' at the Bedford Plaza Hotel in Bedford, MA on the 20th of November 2010. The style was Texas Hold'em No Limit. 

Poker is one such activity, where all of the participants get actively involved, whether they are in the thick of a dealt hand or supporting their friends or family from the sidelines. The element of luck combined with skill make for an exciting combination. Every card that is dealt raises the excitement factor multiple fold and it can be observed, not only in the players but also in the audience. A one in a thousand shot deal in the river, a bad beat, a nut flush played brilliantly, all of it make the game most exciting.

The office bearers Geeta Kannan, Sundar Balasuryan, Kannan Chidambaram, Sudha Balasuryan, and Siva Subramanian embraced the idea for this event.  A dedicated group of volunteers, Neelesh Shah, Sudha Ramanathan, Sridevi Krishnamoorthy, and Mayuri Janapareddy swung into action right away. The process of identifying a date, setting up contribution limits for reserving seats, designing, printing and distributing flyers, reaching out to friends and family, engaging other service organizations like CRY Boston, NET SAP, Indian Association of New Hampshire for support, getting the support of sponsors and of course effectively using the social media web sites like Facebook and Udavum Karangal's web site to promote the event were actively managed.

Couple of months of hectic and persistent promotion of event by the volunteers ended in one of the most exciting fund raising events of this year. The volunteers arrived at 1:00 and set up the tables, welcome gifts, trophies, final table and raffle prizes. The event started at about 2:00 pm with some of the players taking a quick poker lesson. At 3:30 all players took to their seats. What followed was a fantastic four hours of play as novice and expert players tested their people reading skills matching it with their analytic prowess. As players 'dropped off', they kept themselves engaged in the exciting action by cheering their friends and family still at play. As tables consolidated to three and two in the final hours, it was really funny to watch audience egging the playing spouses to do well and not bubble out. The final table of eight players included expert players mixed some that had never played poker before. It was a very lively half hour that toppled the experts and ended in the last man standing with over two hundred thousand chips. Trophies were awarded to the winner and the runner up along with gift cards to all final table players. An Apple TV was raffled off to a lucky winner half way through the game at which time a 10 minute video about Udavum Karangal's ongoing activities was played. The feedback from all the donor players was very positive. 

This event was one hundred percent supported by volunteer efforts and all proceeds collected will benefit Udavum Karangal’s operations without any administrative costs.

Udavum Karangal succeeded in providing an excellent platform that brought donors together to support a great cause, and believes that this is the beginning of a long term relationship with donors which will be strengthened at the 2nd annual Diwali Poker in the year 2011. 

Udavum Karangal(Helping Hands) is a registered non-governmental, non-religious and non-profit social service organization, established in 1983, with the sole objective of serving people in distress. Udavum Karangal centers provide individualized services, treatment, care, rehabilitation and education to almost 2000 residents. Udavum Karangal extends help, succor and a new lease of life to new born babies (abandoned/orphaned), HIV positive, mentally challenged, and destitute elderly people. For more information, please visit: http://www.myhelpinghands.org

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