Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night Raises $70,000 for Decision Education Foundation
Published on: November 29th, 2009 12:10am by: greasiewheels
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Los Angeles, CA (OPENPRESS) November 29, 2009 -- The Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night sponsored by ClubWPT.com took place at Commerce Casino on Thursday, November 19th raising nearly $70,000 for the Decision Education Foundation. The action-packed evening started with 90 attendees enjoying an elegant cocktail hour and complimentary hors d'oeuvres at Stakes Supper Club. Ticket Hold’em CEO Don Gardiner conducted a charity raffle and Duke presented “Use Poker to Learn Skills for Life,” featuring guest speakers Howard Lederer, Ali Nejad, Andy Bloch, and Carl Spetzler.
Following the presentation, guests headed upstairs to the Commerce Casino ballroom for a red carpet walk, featuring such celebrities as Broadway actor Andrew Hill Newman, American Internet entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, film and stage actor Joshua Malina, “Desperate Housewives” Kathy Najimy, “Celebrity Apprentice” Brande Roderick with two-time Superbowl champion and husband Glenn E. Cadrez, Olympic Boxing gold medalist Audley Harrison, “Melrose Place” Nicholas Gonzalez, actor/producer Michael Cory Davis, world champion snowboarder Jeff Brushie, Supercross icon Jimmy Button, reality TV’s Trishelle Cannatella, film/TV actor and director Joe Reitman, Who’s Your Daddy CEO Dan Fleyshman, as well as professional poker players Duke, Lederer, Bloch, Nejad, John “Johnny World” Hennigan, Allen Cunningham, Jerry Yang, Adam “Roothlus” Levy, Joe Sebok, Dave “Hollywood” Stann, and author Michael Craig.
Fun and fundraising activities continued with silent auctions by The Autograph Guys and Pokey Charms, a second Ticket Hold’em competition, a DRAFT Zone raffle, and a charity poker tournament with more than 100 participants directed by celebrity tournament director Matt Savage. Bounties sponsored by hostess Duke, Hardcore Elegance and Rockwell Time were placed on more than 20 pros and celebrities. Nearly 100 pot sweeteners provided by Jack Links and Ollipop were consumed by lucky winners. All tournament participants received generous gift bags sponsored by Fashion 101 Las Vegas, 2-Step Images, UltimateBet, Stakes, Who’s Your Daddy, Jack Links, Martini Gold, OlliePop, and DEF. Halfway through the event, Brand Roderick auctioned off a gold, diamond, and pearl necklace donated by Yvel. Howard Lederer won the bid with a generous $5,000 donation.
The top ten finishers shared more than $45,000 in prizes. First place went to Andy Bloch, who won a seat to play in the 2010 World Poker Tour® (WPT) Celebrity Invitational - one of the most exclusive televised tournaments on the poker circuit - a Rockwell Time sports watch, a Hardcore Elegance gold and diamond bracelet, a limited edition autographed bottle of Jose Cuervo, and UB.com swag. Places two through nine shared valuable prizes sponsored by Rockwell Time, the Spa at Commerce Casino, Hardcore Elegance, Life’s A Bluff, Jose Cuervo, UB.com, World Series of Poker Academy, Cartwright Entertainment, “Hollywood” Dave, Jennifer Harman, AMA Supercross Anaheim, Monster Cable, and more.
“Last Woman Standing” Kathy Najimy also took home a UB.com swag package, with additional prizes going to the player “Out on the Bubble” and two players eliminated with “Cracked Aces.”
All proceeds benefited the Decision Education Foundation (DEF). The Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night was a GreasieWheels production.
To view this and other high-profile event images visit www.GWphotostore.com.
To view a gallery on flickr visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/pievegas/sets/72157622770176677/
Results for the Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night No-Limit Hold’em Event are below.
Place Name Home Town
1 Andy Bloch Las Vegas
2 Keith Gipson Las Vegas
3 Alex Stickroth Toledo
4 Kathy Najimy San Diego
5 David Dyrnaes Laguna Beach
6 Trishelle Cannatella Los Angeles
7 Christopher Tryba Las Vegas
8 Don Gardiner Gilford, Ontario
9 Michael Levin Studio City
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