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Leave it to the game of poker to help erase the concerns over a current economic crisis gripping much of the world.
Although Edmond Coku spends his days working on the bankruptcy of his employer, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., he paid $250 last night to play charity poker for StreetWise Partners, Inc., which helps the underprivileged to find jobs.
Bloomberg News featured a heart warming story on the charity poker event, demonstrating that not all of Wall Street hinges on greed.
``The thing that impresses me most about this program is the optimism people get from it,'' said the smiling Coku, 28, a StreetWise volunteer and Lehman associate in its principal investments unit, while sipping a beer. ``I hate seeing talent go to waste.''
The event lured about 300 corporate and financial-service-industry executives, almost double the number from last year's event. The tournament raised about $75,000 in donations.
Participants included employees of Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Inc., Barclays Plc, Credit Suisse and Lightyear Capital LLC, a New York-based private-equity firm.
``The word has gotten out that this is a good time,'' said Anton Levy, 33, the co-chair of the event and a managing director at General Atlantic LLC, a private-equity firm. ``Now is the time that your dollar goes farther toward helping someone.''
Founded in 1997, StreetWise uses volunteers from Wall Street firms and corporations to mentor low-income individuals, help them find jobs and bolster their confidence and skills in the workplace. Assistance ranges from help working with computers, resume and cover letter writing and interview preparation.
``People at a time like this want to help out,'' Allison Devore, StreetWise's executive director, said in an interview. ``It feels incredibly good when you're helping out.''
Coku, a native of Lezhe, Albania, and a member of StreetWise's young professionals group, said Lehman's woes haven't affected his commitment to the charity and continues to donate about 15 hours per month of his time.
``As Lehman was going through its bankruptcy weeks ago, I was on the phone dealing with that and also talking to a corporate sponsor for StreetWise,'' he said. ``To see someone fulfill their potential is the duty of every good citizen.'
