2005 Annual Meeting Press Releases
EDPA Foundation’s Silent Auction & Poker Tournament Raises Thousands For Scholarships, Education & Financial Need In the Exhibit Industry
(December 9 , 2005) Atlanta, GA -- EDPA’s Annual Meeting hosted the EDPA Foundation’s 1st Annual Poker Tournament on November 30 and the 4th Annual Silent Auction on December 1st in Tucson, AZ. The Auction had more than 155 unique items – donated by industry members and with a little help from the 42 poker tournament players, more than $30,000 was raised benefiting an FIT Exhibit Design Scholarship and other good works for the EDPA Foundation.
Buyers got geared up to the familiar voice of live auction emcee, Scott Tokar of Corporate-FX. “The Silent Auction was filled with excitement and interest given the vast amount of items to bid on,” stated Silent Auction Chair, MaryBeth Gieser of Abex Display Systems. Silent Auction bidding was competitive, teetering back and forth all evening on art, wine baskets, cigars, hand beaded lanyards, Apple Nano, signed baseballs, vacations, advertising and more! Gieser added, “Had it not been for the generous donations and numerous volunteers, this night wouldn’t be possible.” Proceeds of the Silent Auction, along with support of good works, go to securing the future of the EDPA Foundation.
Although it lacks the history, the First Annual EDPA Foundation Poker Tournament had no problem creating its own buzz at the EDPA Annual Meeting Welcome Reception. Five tables were host to 42 players all-vying for the top prizes, but only four walked away with the goods. Fourth place and a $350 gift certificate went to Richard Diess of Advanced Exhibit Methods, third and a $500 gift certificate went to Mitch Plummer of TRI Software, second and a $1000 seat in the EXHIBITOR Show Charity Poker Championship went to Mark Johnson of Star Exhibits & Environments and first place along with a $750 gift certificate went to Jason Soss of Travel Holdings, Inc. “Those that came together for this event single handedly raised money for the Fashion Institute of Technology Master’s Degree in Exhibit Design Scholarship donated by the EDPA Foundation.
The success of this tournament was due to the vision and dedication of tournament chair, Melinda Stewart of Laser Exhibitor Service of Northern California,” stated Pete Dicks, Executive Director EDPA Foundation.
The purpose of the EDPA Foundation is to provide financial support for the
families of industry members when tragedy strikes, award scholarships to
engage creative thinkers who will be the leaders of tomorrow and to ensure the future of the foundation and its good work. Governed by EDPA and administered by a EDPA Foundation Committee along with EDPA staff provided by the Kellen Company a leading association management company, the Foundation also sponsors the Annual Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic, manages the EDPA Scholarship Fund, Silent Auction, the International Student Design Scholarship Competition and other charitable works. For more information about the EDPA Foundation visit www.edpaf.org.
The EDPA Foundation was created in 2001 by the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) which is an International organization providing a unified voice for member companies that design, build, install, service and transport portable, modular and custom exhibits for the trade show industry. For more information about EDPA visit www.edpa.com