Saturday, October 21 was a great day for our 5th annual Goelzer Investment Management MONOPOLY Tournament. The event was contested by 52 players from ten states for four 75-minute rounds. We had plenty of doughnuts and coffee (from Ascend Coffee), a great lunch from Smokin’ Barrel BBQ.
Everyone played the first two rounds, the top sixteen advanced to the third, semi-final round, and the winners of those four games went to the championship table. But, of course, there can only be one winner, and that honor—along with a trophy and the $500 first prize—went to 77-year-old Paula Respress of Chicago, Illinois. On the way to the final, she bankrupted all of her opponents in first two rounds.
Michael Gillespie and Mike Morgan, both of Indianapolis, took the second and third place trophies respectively. And I must say, it was a particularly good day for Paula with four family members competing, three making the semi-final, and her son Melvin Respress, taking fourth place. In all, there were more than $1,500 worth of cash and prizes at this, the richest MONOPOLY Tournament in the Midwest. More importantly, the event raised more than $6,500 for the youth, seniors, and families that we minister to every day.
We want to give our thanks to all our financial sponsors, especially Goelzer Investment Management, who have been the title sponsor for this event since the beginning. Thanks also to OmniSource, who both sponsored financially and supplied the day’s drinking water. Major Tool has supported many things over the years here, and we are grateful to them again for sponsoring the tournament. Thanks to sponsors Paul Gibson, KIPP Indy Public Schools, the Crabtree family, Mike Morgan, Richard Bray, and John Meyer.
Thanks also to our volunteer bankers, including honor students from IU Indianapolis and Boy Scout Troops 959 and 123. Thanks to many other volunteers who helped set up, served food, and helped clean up.
So thank you to all who played, to all who sponsored, and to all who volunteered. You helped to make this fun fundraiser profitable and worthwhile. Thank you again!
