A Mah Jongg tournament fundraiser comes to Game Friendzy in Cherry Hill on Oct. 25, hosted by TRU Partnership, a Voorhees-based nonprofit that upcycles household goods for neighbors in need.

The event is TRU Partnership's first community fundraiser, combining competitive and casual play, raffles, food and shopping to support the all-volunteer organization's work across South Jersey, South Jersey Media first reported.

"We wanted to create a fundraiser that was genuinely fun and brought people together while supporting the work TRU does every day," founder and event organizer Ruth Halpern said. "Mah Jongg has such a strong and enthusiastic community in our area."

Doors open at 12:15 p.m. Tournament play begins at 1 p.m. with three 50-minute rounds following National Mah Jongg League rules. The top three finishers take home Visa gift cards of $150, $100 and $50. Tournament players also receive five raffle tickets with registration, and individual game winners earn tickets for a special prize drawing.

A separate fun-play room will be available for those who prefer a relaxed afternoon with no competition. Players can arrive with a group or come solo.

The event also features raffle baskets, a 50/50 raffle and a separate drawing for a Mah Jongg cabinet and travel set. Homemade Mah Jongg-themed items will be for sale, and snacks will be served.

Halpern said as of Oct. 7 that 15 tournament players had registered, with organizers hoping to attract 32 to 40. Another 25 people had signed up for fun play.

Halpern founded TRU Partnership, a 501(c)(3), in November 2021 after leaving the corporate world to volunteer full-time. The organization collects, upcycles and redistributes donated furniture, dishes, lamps, toys, décor and other household items to people experiencing housing insecurity, financial hardship and other challenges. According to TRU Partnership's website, the group gave away more than $800,000 in thrift-store value in 2023.

Proceeds from the fundraiser help cover the costs of collecting, transporting, storing and distributing donations. Funds also go toward paint, refinishing supplies and upholstery fabric used to prepare items. In one case, TRU purchased a replacement battery to make a donated electric wheelchair usable again.

Game Friendzy is located at 7 Carnegie Plaza, Suite 400, Cherry Hill. For more information, contact TRU Partnership at 856-617-0908 or [email protected].

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