The online charity tournament in honor of late poker media member Justin Shronk went off without a hitch last weekend and drew more than 350 players who wanted to pay memory to the PokerRoad family member.
The $5 + $5 tournament donated on Full Tilt Poker the entirety of the registration fee to the Justin Shronk Memorial Fund at Shronk’s alma mater, Temple University in Philadelphia. Shronk earned his degree from the university’s School of Communications and Theater (SCT) and a scholarship has been established in his name to support other students majoring in Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and Mass Media. According to a statement from SCT, the scholarship aims to help students who need financial aid and preference is given to candidates who have lost a parent. Shronk lost his own father while in school.
The scholarship also pays honor to the spirit of the much-loved poker writer and producer. “The recipient of the scholarship should also exemplify some of the same characteristics that Justin exhibited during his life – an absolute passion for everything media, a great wit and sense of humor, loyalty in his friendships, and someone who would take a job for less money to be able to do the work that he loved,” the scholarship description stipulates.
The fund at Temple was established over the summer when Shronk’s cousin, Brian Lemke, won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and $692,690. He donated $20,000 of that prize money to set up the endowment at Temple and PokerRoad friends and fans have contributed as well.
Sunday’s online tournament drew a slew of fans, fellow media members, and top poker pros who wanted to pay homage to their fallen friend. Kevin “GetPWN3D” Saul, Amit “amak316” Makhija, Eugene Todd, Lee Childs, and Red Pros Andy Bloch, Michael Craig, Mandy Baker, Aaron Bartley, and Kristy Gazes played. So did PokerRoad founder Joe Sebok and site contributors Amanda Leatherman, Scott Huff, Joe Stapleton, Bryan Devonshire, and B.J. Nemeth. Many of the pros shoved all-in early to give PokerRoad fans a chance to double up, while several others registered and simply blinded out in order to make a donation to the scholarship fund and prize pool.
The top 36 finishers made the money and several of them expressed an interest in donating their winnings to the cause. The final table featured Leatherman, Matt Waldron of Life’s a Bluff, PocketFivesLive.com Tournament Reporter Rachel Crader, and several others, with Waldron and Leatherman taking first and second place, respectively.
“I had a blast playing and I’m so happy that so many people showed up in honor of Shronk,” Leatherman said on PokerRoad after her second place finish. “I’m sure he would have wanted me to win, but congrats to Matt Waldron (laughs). Thanks to all the PokerRoadies for rooting me on the entire time! We miss you ShronkDaddy!” Leatherman also told Poker News Daily she planned to donate her winnings to the Shronk scholarship.
On the site’s forums, Shronk’s mother, Kim, expressed her gratitude for the large tournament turnout. “This whole tournament and the great turnout helped me realize that Justin lives on in the hearts of the many that he brought laughter to.”
The online poker tournament is not the only fundraising effort for the scholarship fund lately. Lemke recently final tabled the U.S. Poker Championships at the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City. He sported a UB.com patch for the televised event and donated all of the money he earned from the patch deal to the scholarship fund and the Patrick Cunnane Kids Education Foundation.
Those interested in making a donation to the Justin Shronk Scholarship can do so via Temple’s official website. Donators must specify the SCT and the Justin Shronk Memorial Scholarship in order to direct the donation to the specific scholarship.