by GLENN NYBACK
They share a love of billiards and yesterday, more than 100 people got together at the House of Billiards, Stapleton, to share another passion -- that of raising money for a cause that helps save lives. The second-annual charity event raised funds through raffle ticket sales, sponsorships and donations to benefit the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. A total of $10,096 was raised, according to event coordinator Carol Clark. "Everyone who's here is here on their own time, 100 percent charity," beamed Firefighter Bill Carlson of Ladder Co. 4 in Manhattan, one of the foundation's five directors. "People can take events that are fun and do good with them. It's great." The foundation, started in 1975, funds programs and equipment at the burn center. In addition to treating burn victims, the center conducts research on the altered physiological mechanisms that follow severe burns, and covers cell physiology, wound healing, respiration, immunology, metabolism and psychobiology. Once a year, the foundation also sponsors a children's camp for victims with burn injuries, Carlson said. "It's just really unbelievable how much people donated," said Ms. Clark, a resident of Huguenot who tours as a member of the Women's Professional Billiards Association (WPBA). "They're doing this from their heart. It's a pretty wonderful thing." Even before the doors opened, more than $6,000 had been raised through donations and more than 50 businesses sponsoring the event, Ms. Clark said. (A final tally was unavailable last night). Aside from Ms. Clark, several other professional billiards players attended the event, including Karen Corr, a billiards player ranked second in the world; Kim White, president of the WPBA; and six-time world champion Allen Hopkins. "It's not all about being a player," Ms. Corr, of Northern Ireland, said about the importance of her attending the fund-raiser in between participating in tournaments. "It's a good way for all the pool players to pull together. It's a great cause. [Firefighters] risk their lives every day for you." Participants cherished the opportunity to play pool with pros on their teams, have lunch together and share a few laughs. "I love to play pool, so anything involved with pool, I come to," said Henry Dragula of Travis. "It's a wonderful cause. Anything that I'm involved in that raises money for a charity, I'll do it seven days a week." Joe Kelderhouse and his son Cody came from Brick, N.J., to participate in the six-hour event. "It's the least we can do for them [the FDNY]," Joe Kelderhouse said. "It's a lot of fun for the kids to come play with their idols. And for the adults, too."
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