The First-Ever UnoCup: A Night of Cards, Community, and Friendly Competition

Giving Tuesday got a whole lot more colorful this year as UnoDeuce Multimedia launched the very first UnoCup, a livestreamed UNO tournament designed to bring together the nonprofits housed in the Child and Family Charities Nonprofit Hub. What started as a simple idea—a fun way to spotlight local organizations—quickly turned into an evening full of energy, laughter, and some surprisingly intense card-playing moments.

The tournament featured three preliminary rounds of classic Uno, each one narrowing the field and building anticipation. The winners of those early battles advanced to a final showdown unlike anything the players—or the audience—expected: a high-stakes round of Brutal UNO, where strategy and nerves were tested right to the last card.

Representing the community were an incredible lineup of nonprofits, including Helping Women Period, CASA for Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters, NAMI Lansing, Positive Somebody, DAP Resources, Origami Rehabilitation, Tenant Resource Center, and United Way of South Central Michigan. Each organization had the option to enlist a celebrity champion, and many did—bringing familiar faces like Bob Hoffman, Sheri Jones, and Deb Hart into the mix and adding an extra spark of excitement.

Guiding viewers through every play, skip, reverse, and draw-four were our charismatic announcers: Jeff Croff of Homebrew Tabletop Gaming and Britt Houze of B Houze Originals, whose commentary kept the livestream lively and entertaining from start to finish.

In the end, the honor of becoming the first-ever UnoCup champion went to Origami Rehabilitation, represented by celebrity player Mary Gajda of M3 Group. With their well-earned victory, Origami will hold the UnoCup trophy proudly for the next year—and return next Giving Tuesday ready to defend their crown.

The UnoCup wasn’t just a tournament. It was a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and community— and it’s exactly what Giving Tuesday is all about.