Look To The Stars News: Phil Laak

Celebrities Take A Gamble On Charity

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Over 430 celebrities, VIPs and poker superstars went toe to toe last weekend in the 7th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational poker tournament at Commerce Casino to benefit charity partner, The Vine Group USA (TVG).

In the end, professional player Freedy Deeb bested actor Nicholas Gonzales at the final table to win the event, then donated $34,000 from his first place prize to the charity, bringing the total funds raised for the non-profit organization to more than $112,000.

“This event has become the most popular on the poker circuit, and this year’s record field shows it,” said John Griffo, Director of Poker Operations at Commerce Casino. “Everyone loved that they were able to play while giving back. We look forward to making this an even bigger and better element in years to come.”

Each year, Commerce Casino puts up a $200,000 prize pool for participants to win. This year, WPT and Commerce Casino added a new twist by allowing players to “re-buy,” or make a donation to The Vine Group USA and receive additional chips to keep playing and increase their chances of winning a piece of the prize pool. The new element was a hit, with almost 90 percent of the field opting to participate. One hundred percent of the re-buy proceeds will help provide scholarships, textbooks, and technological equipment to academic institutions in various English-speaking countries in Africa.

“This is huge,” said Mekhi Phifer, Chairman of The Vine Group USA. “The funds raised will allow us to complete the Mekhi Phifer Research Center we are currently building in Nigeria, which will service more than 100,000 students as well as neighboring universities. Our goal is to save millions lives by providing the tools for education and the ability to build a future full of possibilities.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled about the positive impact this will have,” said Steve Lipscomb, WPT Founder, President and CEO. “To be able to give back in times like these is a very good feeling, and what makes it even more exciting is that it was the collaborative effort of hundreds of people who learned about an important cause while having fun and playing the game they love.”

Don Cheadle, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Nicky Hilton, Jon Hamm, Michael Vartan, Jennifer Tilly, Oliver Hudson, Danny Masterson, Camryn Manheim, supermodel Helena Houdova, Jose Canseco, Ricki Lake, Marlon Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, Tia Carrere, Lou Diamond Philips, Vanessa Branch and Shanna Moekler were among the many celebrities at the tables trying their hand against poker pros like Mike Matusow, Mike Sexton, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Chip Jett, Andy Bloch, Gavin Smith, Jaime Gold and Erik Seidel.

The WPT Invitational will air in two-part one-hour episodes on Fox Sports Net May 24 and May 31. Check your local listings or visit www.worldpokertour.com for more information.

The Vine Group USA is a non-profit organization established in 2000 to provide educational resources to tertiary institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa in order to alleviate poverty and help in building a workforce necessary for a sustainable economic development.

Montel Williams Steadfast In Battle Against MS

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Earlier this month, Montel Williams took over the Golden Nuggets’ newly renovated pavilion in Las Vegas to host his charity poker tournament to benefit the Montel Williams MS Foundation.

60 players donated $1,080 each to play the charity event, including noted poker professionals Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak, Jamie Gold, Marsha Waggoner and Robert Williamson III. John Colville, Poker Operations Manager, also presented a generous donation of $25,000 to the MS Foundation.

The Montel Williams MS Foundation directs its research towards new treatments and ways to make them available to everyone. Montel said, “I’m going to keep on having these fundraisers until a cure is found. Technology is advancing and so are the treatments. One day a cure is going to happen!”

Montel went public about his MS eight years ago, and since then has been approached by countless people that have been afflicted with the disease. We don’t always get to meet those who benefit from various foundations and their research, but one person who has benefited from the support of the MS Foundation is William Nystrom, a triathlete from Northern California.

Nystrom was diagnosed with MS when he was 27 and was featured in the MS Foundation’s newsletter.

“Montel is truly a leader and role model when it comes to raising MS awareness,” said Nystrom. “I was really proud to have been included. The foundation advocates an active lifestyle: snow boarding, swimming, running, walking…actually any and all physical exercise. Every year they hold an annual bike-riding event to raise money, but because I live on the west coast and not in NYC anymore, it’s really tough for me to participate in them.”

Nystrom may very well be the ideal poster child for the MS Foundation, while calling him inspirational may be the understatement of the year. On June 8, Nystrom won the Escape for Alcatraz Triathlon in his division. It took him 3- hours, 2-minutes and 24 seconds to complete the 1.5-mile swim, 18-mile bike ride and 8-mile run, which placed him 637th overall out of over 2,000 competitors.

“Winning ranks pretty high up there among my accomplishments,” said Nystrom, who also won the Pacific Grove Triathlon last year. “Being able to compete is infectious. There’s a sense of excitement I can’t explain.”

Stars Take A Gamble At Charity Poker Tournament

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:01:58 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Look To The Stars reporter Delinda Lombardo recently attended the star-studded World Poker Tour Invitational in Los Angeles and caught up with some of the celebrities involved.

On March 1-3, celebrities and poker professionals hit the felt for the 6th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. More than 100 celebrities were invited to compete for a seat in the WPT Championships while raising money for charity, including a side pot worth nearly $30,000 that went entirely to charity in the names of the final 13 celebrities in the field. The three title charities of the event, guaranteed to receive at least $2,500 each, were Soles United, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Harbor Private Funds.

Poker professionals, including Phil Laak, Shawn Sheikhan, Allen Kessler, Kathy Liebert, Jennifer Tilly, Billy Baxter, David Pham, Kenny Tran, and Antonio Esfandiari (who was just named the official spokesperson for the WPT) flocked to the highly successful event, which is now in its sixth year.

Actor James Woods has already established himself as one of the ‘best celebrity’ poker players out there. After losing his brother to a stroke in 2006, it came as no surprise that he plays for the American Stroke Association Charity.

“I’m playing for my brother,” he told me.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss was also playing cards, but it was Lakers forward Ronnie Turiaf who came out a winner. Turiaf has been coping with a heart aliment that didn’t seem to stop him from making the best of it.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “You know, things happen for a reason, and I just try to make the best of it. God tests us all in different ways.”

And part of this ‘test’ includes corroboration with NBA player/poet/humanitarian Etan Thomas. Thomas recently underwent open-heart surgery. When I asked Turiaf what charity he was playing for, he dropped the bomb on me:

“Right now, I’m working on putting together something with Etan Thomas so we can help others going through the same thing,” he said. “Etan and I talked about it when I went to Washington, my part is going to be here and his part will probably be in Washington. We’re hoping to have it established later this year.”

The name of his foundation – Heart to Heart.

“You know, heart to heart,” he said with his hand over his heart. “As in my heart and his heart, and our hearts reaching out to others.”

Another celebrity taking the time to discuss his charitable efforts was actor Nicholas Gonzalez (Undressed). Gonzalez plays poker on a regular basis, but was much more interested in promoting his charity than his poker skills. Gonzalez was playing for Friends of El Faro, an organization that helps needy kids and families in Tijuana, with celebrities making routine visits across the border into Mexico. When asked about his role, he was quick to take the attention off himself.

“You know, it’s a great cause that I’ve been working with for a while,” he said. "One of the biggest proponents of El Faro is Molly Sims, who has a contract with Cover Girl. They even supported her work, went down there and talked to the younger girls, made up their faces and took pictures. Also Shannon Elizabeth, Adam Rodriguez, and especially Sharon Lawrence, who has been a really huge supporter – there’s a lot of celebrity friends. We used to have big gala every year in Hollywood that’s very well attended, but really, like I said it’s about getting down there, it’s not about who anybody is, it’s about spending time with the kids. We do everything from build playgrounds, to rebuilding kitchens, to knocking down walls – that kind of thing. "

Also on the red carpet was actor Justin Henry (The Junior Defenders), sitting in for actor Heath Ledger, who recently passed away. When asked about his charity, Henry simply stated “I’m playing for Heath.”

Numb3rs actor Will Wheaton walked the Red Carpet while commenting on his Curious George doll, “My son gave it to me for good luck.”

Actor John Hawkes (American Gangster, Deadwood) was knocked out of the poker tournament early on, so I spent some time chatting with him about his charity efforts. Had he not been eliminated, his winnings were earmarked to help save a few animals.

“I love animals,” he said. “So I would have given it all to support Friends of Animals in Utah, they do really great work and are a worthwhile cause that really I believe in.”

Hawkes in also involved with the 1-Second Film Project, a non-profit collaborative film that anyone can be part of. Hawkes is listed as one of the celebrity producers, along with Brett Ratner, Spike Jonez, and Kiefer Sutherland, who are raising money while creating the Worlds Biggest Short Film. All profits raised by the finished film will be donated to the Global Fund for Women.

Tom Everett Scott (Cashmere Mafia, Saved) was playing for a cause close to his heart.

“I’m playing for autism” he said prior to the tournament. “It runs in my family so it’s really important for me to personally get involved.”

Brian Baumgartner (The Office) was there to help raise money for those writers who were affected by the writers strike.

“I’m playing for the Motion Picture and Television Fund for the below the line workers that were affected by the writers strike,” he commented. “Its really an important organization that does a great deal of good work.”

Other celebrities in attendance included Mimi Rogers, who was playing for the Dream Foundation, actor Dwayne Adway (Into the Blue_), who was very proud to support the Creative Coalition, and James Kyson Lee (_Heroes) who has been inspired to start his own foundation.

“I’m just getting it established” Lee happily stated. “Im really excited about being able to help others and give back, I’d like to help the children in some way.”

Other celebrities in attendance included actor Don Cheadle, Meat Loaf, Ryan Stiles (Drew Carey Show_), Donnie Wahlberg (Kill Point_), Mekhi Phifer (E.R_.), Eric Paladino (E.R.), Jonathon Schaech (Prom Night_), Joshua LeBar (Entourage_), Joshua Morrow (Young and the Restless_), Lukas Haas (Death in Love_), comedian Doug Benson, Camryn Manheim (Ghost Whisperer_), Louis Lombardi (Sopranos, 24_), Jeremy Sisto (_Law & Order, Six Feet Under), Andy Milner (Weeds), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Michael Vartan (Big Shots, Never Been Kissed), Ron Livingston (The Time Traveler’s Wife), Tia Carrere, and Andy Hirsh (Big Love).

Congratulations to the winner of the event, Van Nguyen, who became the first female in history to win a mixed WPT tournament. She is married to poker pro Men ’The Master" Nguyen.

Look To The Stars News: Phil Laak

Celebrities Take A Gamble On Charity

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