Jo Bruno

Jo Bruno here, peer support specialist and lived-experience advisor. My story starts in the streets of Antioch, 94509 in early 2001. The lifestyle I lived isn’t a secret #CupOfJoBruno style, but this isn’t about that. This is about two local pool players, trying to better our lives. This is about healing and therapy. This is about support! Mr. Rosa and myself are officially registered for the May ACS National Champions Tournament in Vegas during Mother's Day Weekend 2026. This will be the first of many to come. We are stoked! And, we need your help. I’m asking for support to buy equipment, uniforms, rental car and gas. It’ll cover the AirBnB while we're there and administrative fees associated with registration. Donating to this campaign will ease the stress of being away from our families and responsibilities for a week. Playing pool has become extremely beneficial for us both. During hard times, I always found myself at the local pool hall on 2nd street; it’s no longer there, but I’m still playing pool along the same delta shoreline. I played pool to relieve the stress. I used the game to focus my mind. I spent time in a safe place when I didn’t have any safe places. When I found myself homeless, on the same delta roads nearly 25 years later. The only thing I did was play pool because, once again, I found a safe place where I was out of the elements of homelessness and safe from my abuser. It was in 2020, I found myself surviving through the covid shut down and sleeping in my car. The only thing I did for myself was play pool, and I did it every day. I am now on two pool leagues in Antioch; one of which is leading me on a journey of professional pool. This journey is shared, too. Another local pool player, Mr. Rosa, and myself are playing in the scotch doubles tournament, and we are excited about our shared experience. It’s our first time playing in the national tournament, and we could both use the support. We are officially registered for the the May ACME ACS National Champions Tournament in Vegas during Mother's Day Weekend. This will be the first of many to come. We are stoked! And, we need help. I’m asking for help to buy equipment, the travel and hotel stay while we're there, and administrative fees associated with registration. Currently, the bill is nearly $500, without hotel stay or travel expenses. I have put the charge onto my credit card that I was finally approved for after years of fighting bankruptcy and homelessness. I’m still without a steady income, and currently working on establishing my ACoJB business of guided story-telling and a wellness cafe. It’s only a matter of time before I have my own establishment with my own pool table. But, we need help now. Between Mr. Rosa and myself, we have equipment, clothing, and the rental car still to get. It’s intriguing to think that I could find sponsors and donations for my travels to Vegas for a National Pool Tournament. To have used pool as a healing journey throughout my lifestyle of chaos and abuse, I would be over the moon ecstatic to get support from you. Will you support me, please? My journey has led me down paths that were never met with support, and in the world we live in today as we step into the Fire Horse season, I am hopeful this request will find the people who will support us. Much love and thank you for your time.