RSSMonopolizing a worthy cause
Lorton tournament raises $3,500 for Habitat for Humanity
A merry mood of Monopoly madness descended on Lorton on Saturday when 51 game enthusiasts competed like dice-rolling Olympians in the third annual Monopoly Tournament.
The three-round event was held to raise funds for local charities, this time Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. Sponsored by Ron Kowalski and Susan Borrelli of Lorton-based Long & Foster, it began with 12 tables and eventually narrowed to one six-person championship match.
Kowalski, a self-described "Monopoly maniac" -- he has "Monopoly Man" on his license plate --viewed the tournament as a natural way to bring people together for a worthy cause. Though the first-prize winner walked away with $500, more important was the $3,500 brought in that will go to Habitat for Humanity, whose staff as well as Long & Foster volunteers were present to operate the "banks" and maintain order amid frequent rules challenges.
As the clock ticked down to "eight more minutes," two of the finalists, 12-year-old Paul Poling and his 11-year-old brother Matt were grim as they saw the tide turning against them.
"Take your time, Paul," offered one supporter.
Matt simply snapped, "You're going down."
A few feet away, Dan Poling rooted for both his sons. Paul, after all, had won first prize -- then worth $1,000 -- in 2008 and Matt took fifth a year ago. But this time, Paul was eliminated first, left in sixth place, while Matt held onto fifth. The winner turned out to be 26-year-old Aubrey Pruiit, who had driven from Greensboro, N.C., after whetting his appetite in last year's tournament.