Cole Hamels, center, plays blackjack during the first annual Diamond in the Rough tournament. This year's event raised more than $48,000 for charities and scholarships.
Hamels Foundation poker tourney raises $48K
Geoff Pickle
Posted online
The third annual Diamond in the Rough charity poker tournament raised $48,200 to support Springfield charities and education in the Ozarks. The Dec. 2 event held at the Knights of Columbus Diamond Room, 2340 W. Grand St., raised about $10,000 more than the previous tournament.
The tournament is sponsored by Springfield-based Hamels Foundation Inc., a charity group founded by pro baseball player Cole Hamels, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, and his wife, Heidi, a Buffalo native.
Hamels Foundation Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Dugas said Springfield nonprofit Care to Learn received a $10,000 donation at the event, and additional donations will be presented to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and the Underprivileged School Children's Fund, a United Way of the Ozarks affiliate that aids at-risk children attending Springfield Public Schools.
The six-member board of directors for the Hamels Foundation - comprising Cole and Heidi Hamels, Dugas and three others - will vote next week on how best to appropriate the additional funds among the charities.
Dugas noted that a portion of the funding will be used in May to provide college scholarships for students in Buffalo.
The tournament drew 275 attendees, includes Cole and Heidi Hamels.
"There's always a lot of work that goes into these events to make them fun," Dugas said. "The turnout was wonderful."
The Hamels Foundation, which currently operates out of an office at 3524 E. Nora St., on Oct. 7 signed a five-year lease with leasing agent Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Co. LLC to occupy 2,300 square feet on the McDaniel Street side of College Station.
Dugas, who declined to disclose costs of the infill work currently being completed, said she expects the foundation to move into the new space by Christmas. [[In-content Ad]]
