On Oct. 24, Knights of Columbus 4168 will present its third annual Texas Hold’Em Tournament to benefit the Tony Imburgia Scholarship Fund at St. Francis Xavier School.

Since 2012, the fund has helped the families of 17 students afford a Catholic education at our parish school.

Tony Imburgia was an active parishioner at St. Francis Xavier Church who believed in the importance of sending his three children to the parish day school. It certainly was a sacrifice to do so, given the cost of tuition, which this year is $3,600 per child, but he wanted his children to have daily immersion in their faith and an education framed by their Catholic values and teachings.

While his two youngest were students at St. Francis Xavier, he became ill with cancer and died in 2010. The parish and Knights of Columbus 4168, a Catholic men’s fraternal organization of which he was a member, rallied to support his family and honor his memory by establishing the Tony Imburgia Scholarship Fund. The goal of the fund is to help lower the cost of tuition for families.

So far, 17 scholarships have been awarded: Seven scholarships of $750 each were awarded in 2014, five of $750 each in 2013, and five of $500 each in 2012. “It only happens as a direct result of our Knights’ efforts in remembrance of Tony Imburgia and our common desire to support our kids and their families at the St. Francis Xavier Parish day school,” says Dan Cathcart, a longtime Knight and friend of the Imburgia family.

The Texas Hold’Em Tournament, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 131 N. East St., Medina, costs $50 to buy-in, and $25 to re-buy-in. Minimum first-place payout is $1,000 with 50 participants. Those who pay before Oct. 20 will receive an extra $200 in starting chips. Beer, soft drinks and snacks are provided free of charge, while they last. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the tournament starts at 7 p.m.

For more information about the tournament, contact Brian Coughlin at 330-606-0350 or brianjcoughlin@zoominternet.net. Those who don’t wish to play but want to support the scholarship fund can participate by making tax-deductible donations to the Knights of Columbus Tony Imburgia Scholarship Fund c/o Dan Cathcart, 5204 Glenmoore Way, Medina, 44256.