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Nature House poker tournament proves sure bet for Friends of Reston
At least, that's how much Katie Shaw, executive director of the Friends' board and Nature Center manager, expected the friendly poker tournament, on Oct. 19, to contribute to the building project, which is estimated, at this point in time, to cost approximately $1.5 million.
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Vienna-based Acumen Solutions came to the event with a sure bet for the Friends project. Acumen donated an additional $10,000 to the Friends' efforts, said Andy Schoka, the IT company's managing director for communications and media. Schoka officially presented a check to Friends board member Jim Cleveland at the event.
The donation, which brings the Friends' total fund-raising effort to $1 million, is a tangible expression of one of Acumen's core values - giving back to community - Schoka said.
"We spend a lot of time investing in our people and communities, local children. ... This is a great opportunity to give back to a community I know very well," he said.
Schoka, 39, who grew up off Lawyers Road in Reston and now lives in Fairfax with his wife, Wendy, 38, and their three children - Andrew, 12; Michael, 11; and Emily, 7 - noted that his parents as well as his in-laws all live in Reston. So, as a former Terraset Elementary School student and South Lakes High School grad, he would greatly enjoy having such an educational facility in his former hometown when his children visit their grandparents.
Acumen's donation has been earmarked for Nature House's rain garden, Shaw said.
However, before ground can be broken for the facility, the complete $1.5 million must be raised, Shaw explained. The challenge is to raise the money before construction costs go up, yet again.
"It's a war of attrition," said Friends board member Joe Ritchey, principal of Prospective Inc., a real estate brokerage and consulting firm in Reston.
"It would be nice to get ahead of the curve," Shaw said, noting Friends is continually looking for good corporate neighbors, like Acumen, to make major gifts and in-kind donations.
The winners of the Friends' Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament were: first place, Tim Ramey, of Sprint; second place, Jeff Klebine, of Acumen Solutions; third place; Jennifer Blackwell, president the Reston Association.
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