World Poker Tour Launches Charitable WPT Foundation

admin, February 24, 2012 11:49 am

The World Poker Tour has just launched its own charitable organization called the WPT foundation, whose goal is to utilize the “WPT’s unmatched platform to influence positive change in the world.”
Helping to improve human rights, as well as end genocide and starvation in the world will be among the many worthy causes that now stand to benefit from the WPT foundation. Consequently, the organization’s charitable partners will include Enough Project, Conservation International, and Word Central Kitchen.
The key to raising money will be organizing a series of poker tournaments called ‘WPT Playing for a Better World,’ where poker pros and A-list celebrities will come together to help raise money for global philanthropic causes.
The inaugural event will begin on March 11th, with the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills replacing a traditional casino setting. Tickets can be purchased for $500, or raffle tickets for around $100 by visiting the charity’s WPTFoundation.org website.
The order of entertainments will begin with poker training sessions from the pros, followed by the tournament itself. A raffle and auction will then be held offering a number of exclusive prizes, such as private poker lessons with a top professionals, tickets to a WPT cruise, a helicopter tour of Los Angeles, and going to a NFL game alongside the Fox Sports film crew.
Celebrities believed to be attending the event include Woody Harrelson, Gerard Butler, Don Cheadle, Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, and Eva Longoria. Meanwhile, those poker players turning out to support the charity event will include Mike Sexton, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Vanessa Selbst, Tony G, Dan Harrington, Jamie Gold, Maria Ho, Andy Frankenberger.
The World Poker Tour has also pledged to add an initial $100,000 to the WPT Foundation in order to give the organization a boost. Commenting on the project, WPT CEO Steve Heller, said:
“World Poker Tour has always been dedicated to supporting charitable causes, but by establishing WPT Foundation we are making a deep, lasting commitment to philanthropy the likes of which the poker world has not seen before.”

Other news:   2024 WSOP Europe schedule released
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