About this event
The Schonesland Charity Poker Run is BACK, coming up on October 30, 2021! After focusing on supporting the Food Bank of Iowa in 2020, we scanned the horizon for other worthy causes and found a terrific one.
A bit of background story: USS The Sullivans is a Fletcher-class destroyer, originally laid down on October 10, 1942. It is one of 175 such destroyers, a very high number due to the overall success of the class. President Franklin Roosevelt renamed the ship, designated DD-537, to The Sullivans in honor of the sacrifice of one particular family from Waterloo, Iowa.
In November 1942, five brothers: George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert Sullivan, were lost when their ship USS Juneau sank after receiving multiple torpedo hits off Guadalcanal. To recognize the family’s sacrifice, DD-537 was renamed in their honor, and the boys’ mother Alleta Sullivan christened the ship. The vessel went on to an illustrious career lasting from World War II all the way through the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The name continues to be used to the present day, not only on DD-537, but also on DDG-68, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer commissioned in 1997 and operating around the world as we speak.
DD-537 was donated to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in Buffalo, NY. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986 and serves as a museum and memorial, open for public tours. In early 2021, the ship was discovered to be taking on water. The freezing and thawing of many more winters than the ship was designed to survive have taken their toll. The local community, including several businesses, have banded together to save the ship, but more help is needed to keep it floating for years to come.
That’s where we come in! Our Poker Runs have benefitted military-adjacent causes in the past to great effect. This year’s run will be all-new and run roughly along the Des Moines River north of the Des Moines metro area. We’ll depart from the AMC movie theater near our Cars & Coffee location in Johnston. We’ll do a driver’s meeting at 8:30AM to be on the road by 9:00. We’ll conclude the run (and see who got the best hand) at lunch around 11:30AM at Central Standard Burgers in Waukee.
Cost per hand played is $25 – play as many as you like as every last dime will benefit USS The Sullivans. Let’s keep this piece of Iowa history floating proudly and helping educate future generations!
Event requirements
Price per hand played is $25. Play as many hands as you like!