Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Sheepshead tournament is a good time for a good cause

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- The South Side Scholarship Foundation started as a group of parents who wanted to find a way to help their kids pay for college. 

That was back in 1969.

Since then, they've given out $1,000,000 in scholarships. And they're still raising money by hosting events that bring the community together. 

Dan Steffes has been playing sheepshead since he was a kid.

"I grew up playing with my family. My grandpa and my dad and my uncles," Steffes said.

He insists the rules are easy to learn. 

"In order to win, if you're the picker, you have to get 61 points," he explained.

Even if the finer points take a little longer to learn. 

"All make sense? Clear as mud," he laughed.

And even if the trick-- which is basic strategy-- doesn't go your way, not to worry.

"It's about gemütlichkeit, is the German word. Just good times, basically," Steffes said.

And this is a good time for a good cause. 

"What you're seeing is 65 players, roughly, are playing three rounds of 15-card hands," said Roger Masarik.

Masarik is running this sheepshead tournament. It's benefitting the South Side Scholarship Foundation.

"It's just a good cause because we know the cost of college is really expensive," Masarik said. "And the unique thing about our scholarship is it gets paid directly to the student."

Last year, the foundation gave out 30 individual $1,000 scholarships. 

Foundation members know, just like in sheepshead, every little bit adds up. And the money goes directly to the student. 

"So, if the kid needs it for a car expense or they have to buy a laptop or they need to pay for food, they can use it for that type of expense," Masarik said.

Foundation president Lee Litzau got involved because he likes the flexibility offered to members. 

"You could contribute a small amount. You could contribute a whole scholarship if you wanted," Litzau said.

Those donations add up, totaling a million dollars in scholarships so far.

A number they want to see grow. 

"We want to do more. We want to give more. The more members we get, the more opportunity we have to help these people pursuing higher education," Litzau said.

The scholarship is open to any student, not just kids on the southside. You do have to get an application from a foundation member. Masarik says they get about 70 applications a year-- so there's about a 40% chance you'll win the thousand dollars. 

For more information, click here. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].