Look To The Stars News: Willie Garson

Stars Play Poker For Children's Institute

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Celebrities and other high profile guests will wage their bets on Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2009, at the Commerce Casino, in support of Children’s Institute, Inc.’s (CII) work with children who are affected by violence, abuse and other trauma.

Top players have a chance to win several top prizes, including $5,000 in cash, a 2010 World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational Tournament Seat (valued at $25,000), or a business class personal computer system.

A host of stars will attend, including Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Camryn Manheim, who will act as host of CII’s “First Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament”. Also attending are Brandon Beemer, Maria Bello, Dean Cain, Kevin Davitian, Tony Denison, Joely Fisher, Willie Garson, Jennie Garth, Kelli Gates, Nicholas Gonzalez, Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Cheryl Hines, Jamie Kennedy, Ricki Lake, Kevin Nealon, Mekhi Phifer, Kevin Rahm, Mimi Rogers, J.K. Simmons, Jon Tenney, Alison Sweeney, Greg Vaughn, Tuc Watkins, Brian White, Jay Wilkison and Susan Yeagley.

The event will take place at Commerce Casino, 6131 Telegraph Road, Commerce, California.

Children’s Institute, Inc. helps children who have been affected by violence in their homes or communities. Since 1906, CII has served at-risk children and families in some of Los Angeles’ most devastated neighborhoods. CII provides healing and support so that traumatized children can recover and lead healthy lives. They lead children away from tragic outcomes and on a path toward opportunity and achievement.

Sex And The City Star Volunteers For Diabetes Camps

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Sex And The City actor Willie Garson is currently volunteering at camps for children with Type 1 diabetes.

The 45-year-old actor – who played Stanford Blanch on Sex and the City and has appeared in over 50 films, including “There’s Something About Mary,” “Being John Malkovich” and “The Rock” – is lending his time to Camp Joslin in Charlton (a boys’ camp) and the Clara Barton Camp (a girls’ camp) in North Oxford, Mass. The Barton Center for Diabetes Education runs both camps.

Along with his 8-year-old son, Nathan, Garson is undertaking a wide range of responsibilities at the camp – he does everything other staff workers would do, ranging from being responsible for one of the cabins to washing dishes. Several years ago, he attended a fundraiser for children with diabetes and wanted to help. He found that volunteering at camp was a good way to stay involved and to expose his adopted son to volunteering. Neither he nor his son have diabetes.

The Barton Center for Diabetes Education is one of the largest, independent camping and educational program in the country dedicated to children who live with diabetes and the people who care for them. The Barton Center, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2007, is located at the birthplace of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. The Barton Center is a year-round camp, retreat, and conference center where learning and shared experiences combine to support and motivate children and families. Some 1,500 children and their families participate in its programs annually, including the Clara Barton Resident Camp; Adventure Programs; Family Programs; Fall, Winter, Spring Programs; and Day Camps in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

To find out more about the camps, click here.

Eva Longoria Takes A Gamble For Charity

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tomorrow night, August 9, will see Eva Longoria Parker hosting her very own poker tournament for charity.

The Tony and Eva Parker Celebrity Casino Night will take place at Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch in San Antonio, Texas. UltimateBet – an online poker room – has announced sponsorship of the event, and has also donated an Aruba Poker Classic prize package to the event’s live auction. The prize package includes a seat in this year’s Poker Classic, plus a head-to-head poker game and a lesson with 11-time World Series of Poker winner Phil Hellmuth in his personal suite in Aruba. The 2008 Aruba Poker Classic kicks off on September 27, and several celebrities have already confirmed their attendance – including Don Cheadle and Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian.

Eva Longoria Parker’s event, which she is co-hosting with husband Tony Parker – the San Antonio Spurs star point guard – will raise money for the actress’ own charity, Eva’s Heroes. The foundation aims to help individuals with developmental disabilities interact and grow, and was inspired by Longoria’s sister.

Celebrities already confirmed for the event include Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Katie Chonacas, Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott, Willie Garson, Jennifer Morrison, Adam Rodriguez, Leeann Tweeden, and David Zayas.

“I’m incredibly excited that the popularity of poker is able to help such an important cause and I’m unbelievably honored to be associated with this charity,” stated Phil Hellmuth, who will emcee the event.

More information can be found at the Eva’s Heroes website.

Fantasy Poker Night Benefits Lili Claire Foundation

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:09:44 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Familiar celebrity faces met with members of the public for a fundraising evening of no-limit Texas Hold-Em poker while enjoying cocktails poolside at the W Hotel. Cadillac cars transported guests to and from the venue for a star-studded fantasy poker experience on July 10th.

Guests included Jeremy Sisto, Jason Ritter, Pete Yorn, Brian Baumgartner, Willie Garson, Jason Mewes, Andy Milonakis, Shari Belafonte, Don Most, Bob Goen, Victoria Pratt, Paul Johansson, Kate Linder, Patrick Fabian, Kelli Williams, Samm Levine, Kato Kaelin, Norby Walters, Josh Charles, Mitch Allan, Shaun Toub, Kathleen Madigan, Michael DeLorenzo, and Ken Howard.

Brian Baumgarter of “The Office” was the lucky winner, and a generous donation was made to The Lili Claire Foundation in his name.

The event was organised by Hollywood Fantasy Experience and NSO Entertainment, in association with HollywoodPoker.com, to benefit the Lili Claire Foundation.

Lili Claire Foundation was established to enhance the lives of children born with Williams Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Autism, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other neurogenetic birth conditions, while providing hope and resources to the families who love them.

Stars Raise The Stakes For Darfur

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:44:33 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Las Vegas is to host a star-studded poker tournament on July 5 to raise much needed aid for the current humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

The Ante Up For Africa event will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, and will see “Ocean’s 13” stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon compete in the high stakes world of Texas Hold ’Em against a host of other celebrities.

The event has been organised by actor Don Cheadle and professional poker player Annie Duke, and will coincide with the annual World Series of Poker. The pair hope the event will generate funds to help the “millions of people who must roll the dice every day in their struggle to survive (in Darfur).”

The Ocean’s 13 actors are expected to join fellow celebrities Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, George Lopez, Willie Garson and many others in the all-night tournament. There is also the opportunity for non-celebrities to pitch their skills against the stars, as anyone over the age of 21 can enter the tournament for a $5000 “buy-in”.

“While a donation is not required to enter,” said Duke in a recent press release, “we are respectfully asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to the [”ENOUGH Project":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/621-enough-project] and the International Rescue Committee – organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur."

Don Cheadle, an accomplished poker player himself, is co-author of Not On Our Watch, a book about the crisis in Darfur, and co-founder of the non-profit organization of the same name. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film “Hotel Rwanda”, which tells the story of the government-sanctioned slaughter of more than a million people in Rwanda in 1994, and has spent the last two years heavily involved in humanitarian causes.

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