All-In For All Good Celebrity Poker Tournament

Who wouldn't believe that this actor, stand-up comedian made a big splash at the 2009 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship, defeating the poker instructor and poker icon Annie Duke in the first round while entertaining the audience with his table-talk and antics.

Brad Garrett, also played at the World Series of Poker, where he joined in the main event and the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament. Brad Garrett is now the host of his very own charity poker event, the All-In For All Good Celebrity Poker Tournament at Commerce Casino last Saturday, May 30. The $350 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Tournament will benefit the Maximum Hope Foundation and the Dream Foundation.

Brad Garrett with his group of the comedy actors and actresses merged for the benefit of Dream Foundation and Maximum Hope Foundation's All-In For All Good Celebrity Poker Tournament. Jason Alexander, Ray Romano, Kevin Nealon, Teri Hatcher, Mimi Rogers, Joely Fisher are among the few who brought the humor and a heart on the poker tables.

Other celebrities like: Cheryl Hines, Michael Chiklis, Hank Azaria,Christopher Cross, Robert Dav, Nicole Sullivan come up and join the fun.

The charity event will also feature a silent and live auction, and tournament prizes include $10,000 in final-table prize money, along with electronic prizes, and travel prizes provided by event sponsor American Airlines.

The Charity tournament began at 1 in the afternoon, and also feature a silent live auction. The Celebrity Poker Tournament prizes are the following:

• 1st Place: $7,000 cash

• 2^nd Place: $ 2,500 cash

• 3^rd Place: $5,000 cash plus a seat at World Poker Tournament

• 4^th to 10^th Place: Prizes courtesy of SONY and Apple

Prizes order to be determined in SONY and Apple:

• DVD Home Theater System from SONY

• LCD Flat Screen TV from SONY

• Cybershot Digital Camera from SONY

• Blue-ray Disc Player from SONY

• Location Free Base Station from SONY

• Handycam Camcorder from SONY

• And Blue iPod with $100 iTunes certificate from APPLE

In the interview of the cardplayer staff Ryan Luchessi to Brad Garrett talked about using his love of poker to help others:

Card Player Ryan Luchessi: First thing’s first, tell me about your upcoming charity tournament. What can you tell players and fans out there who would be interested in playing?

Brad Garrett: Four years ago I started my own charity, it’s called the Maximum Hope Foundation…It’s been very successful, it’s a grassroots, small foundation, all non-profit. We have one employee, and everyone else is on a volunteer basis. We help many families during the year that are just trying to meet daily expenses, from rent to food to bills to gas.

A lot of these families that have to contribute to their health insurance costs when they are terminally ill, even at 20 percent, they are literally wiped out. In this economy, with people not working, we have just become overwhelmed with people who need help. So, we’ve teamed up with the Dream Foundation, which is another foundation that I’ve worked with for years that is almost like a sister foundation of ours as far as the fact that they help families that have terminally ill members that are 18 years and older. We decided to team up in an effort to raise as much money as we can for these families.

Card Player Ryan Luchessi: What direct help will the families benefiting from your foundation receive from the charity donations the tournament will raise?

Brad Garrett: There are so many people who need basic things right now, so we help them out with gas money to get to the hospital and the money they need for rent. One family didn’t have a washer and dryer with four kids. These are things that are truly priorities for these people. What is really great about it is that whatever is donated that week goes directly to help these families with gas cards, or electrical bills, or clothing. You can see what your contribution does immediately, and we let people know where they’re helping. It makes it very personal, and it makes it immediate, as these kinds of needs are.

Card Player Ryan Luchessi: Tell me a little bit about the atmosphere you expect for the night of charity event?

Brad Garrett: It’s going to be around-the-clock food and drinks, fun, and entertainment. There are going to be live bands, and a jazz trio. It’s going to be fun; it’s going to be loose. I mean, anybody can walk away with that $7,500 for first place. Not only that, but how many times are you going to have an opportunity to play next to Ray Romano and Michael Chiklis, or Kevin Nealon and Hank Azaria? We’re looking at a field of 200 people; we’re getting some great response, and I think it’s going to be a fun day. There’s going to be music, it’s going to be crazy, I know Ray’s going to be talking at me and dissing on me, and we just have a lot of fun. It’s a lot like our home game.

We’re all serious and average players who just like to have a good time…I mean, $350 for registration, how may times do you go to a casino and blow that in an hour? It goes to a great cause, and it’s totally tax-deductible…Fox, the network that my show is on has been great, Sony pictures and television has been incredibly generous. It’s cool, because at the end of the day, this is what it’s all about.

Card Player Ryan Luchessi: How has your prior involvement in poker with the WSOP and NBC Heads-Up event opened up opportunities for you to play poker and help charities at the same time?

Brad Garrett: Ray and I have a monthly home game that we have played in for years, and we’ve done golf tournaments before, but we wanted do something that we all love for charity, so we decided to do a poker tournament. Commerce Casino has been incredibly helpful in helping us get this together. I would love to do whatever I can for charity via poker. I’m like one of those guys that throws around the football on Sunday and dreams of playing, except for me it’s poker. I’ve always loved it, I’ve played for 20 years and I’m still pretty darn bad. The bottom line is I just love the game, and it’s one of the few things I can do that makes me forget the other things I’m dealing with. It’s my kind of sport, I don’t have to sweat and I can have a hot dog, so any sport like that is a fun thing.

Like stand up, the reason I love poker is because every night is different. I have no right beating Annie Duke, but if you get the right cards, even a neophyte like me can have some fun. I just love the game; this is something I would like to do as far as helping charities and it is something I would like to get better at. My heroes are the Gus Hansens, the Hellmuths, and the Annie Dukes, these people who I think are wonderful at what they do, and I just love watching it. It’s my sport of choice.

Maximum Hope is aiming to help the families with incurable ill children, and the Dream Foundation is the only organization that handouts wishes for incurable ill adults.

What better course of action to raise money than with poker and a whole lot of laughs with these celebrity comedian actors and actresses!

Annie Duke's “Sucking Out On The Rivers” Charity Poker Tournament

If you didn’t like the outcome of this year’s Celebrity Apprentice Season 2, then this is your chance to join in a little good natured revenge with proceeds going to Refugees International.




The World Series Of Poker Academy was a proud sponsor of the “Sucking Out On The Rivers” charity tournament hosted by resident WSOP Academy poker instructor, poker icon and a Celebrity Apprentice finalist Annie Duke.



The Sucking Out On The Rivers Charity Poker Tournament held at the Hard Rock Casino's Poker Room in Las Vegas.



Duke is out to bear out Joan Rivers wrong with the “Sucking Out On The Rivers” charity tournament last May 27.

The superbly titled “Sucking out on the Rivers” charity poker tournament will see Duke settling down to do battle with conspicuous Joan Rivers' impersonator Frank Marino alongside a host of other impersonators from around the world.

Now Duke is giving poker players a chance to get with a vengeance on Joan Rivers and prove her statements about poker players wrong -with the “Sucking Out On The Rivers” charity tournament with co-host Joan Rivers' impersonator, Frank Marino.



Annie Duke and Frank Marino emerged on this charity poker tournament. The buy-in is $200 with re-buys and add-ons will be available through the first hour of the tournament to boost the prize pool, half of which will go to Refugees International. Expected poker professionals to come out and join the fun. There are also 20 other Joan Rivers impersonators playing along, each one with a bounty on their head for the lucky player who knocks them out.


“I think that after this poker tournament, the real Joan Rivers will quickly realize that poker players are good-natured people, professional people with respected occupations and families who really want to change the lives of those less fortunate. As poker players, we’re all banding together, not just to prove a point to Joan, but to actually change the world.” Annie Duke said.


There's also a red carpet ceremony that held at 5 p.m. on the day of the tournament, with cards got in the air at 6 p.m.


As Joan Rivers told Annie Duke that all poker players were “white trash” and that none of them had last names, evoking that those who love poker are automatically linked to a crime.



“People that didn’t know anything about poker realized it was great and cool,” said Duke.



Joan Rivers’ opinion has depleted the fury of people in the poker world. The world’s top poker players and several Hollywood celebrity poker players are slated to play in the charity poker event to show that there’s a lot of good that comes from poker.

Players and fans alike can agree that Rivers has an outdated notion of what it means to be a poker player.


“Poker players are normal people: accountants, doctors, Phd’s. Our President has been known to play poker,” Annie Duke said.



Duke's reason for the charity poker tournament and her appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice Season 2 was not to win over Joan Rivers. She raised $70,000 for Refugees International, over half the total amount of what was raised on the show.

Duke says her only regret was that she didn’t get the $250,000 for her charity.


Since the show ended fans have donated $10,000 to Refugees International, sometimes in increments as small as $10.

Las Vegas comedian and magician Dave Johnson, showed up and dressed like Rivers.

Johnson came to play, because no matter what, the tournament was for a good cause.

Las Vegas resident Wilma Herschberg felt it would do Rivers some good to show up to a poker charity tournament. “I think it would do her some good,” she said.




Herschberg added that she had no idea what Rivers’ rebuttal would be to a group of people raising money in a form she so openly bashed while dressed up as her.


Duke would like all the people who feel she should have beat Rivers to instead educate themselves about the 40 million people in the world who are displaced due to war and upheaval in their countries.


“When people are educated they can put pressure on their representatives to make a change,” Annie Duke said.

The Hulk And The Poker Champ Hosts Charity Poker Tournament

The Wilhelm and Karl Maybach Foundation and the Sunflower Children Foundation yoked together at Cannes Film Festival to host a celebrity poker night to put up funds for charity. The event took place at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc at 10.30 p.m. last May 17 and the host of the VIP table is the Incredible Hulk himself, screenwriter, and director, Edward Norton with co-host WSOP poker champion Jamie Gold.






The winner of the event will win a seat in the 2009 World Series Of Poker, flights to Las Vegas, and hotel accommodation. They will also receive private coaching from Jamie Gold before and during the event and $10,000 Main Event Buyin!.




In the past years, the Maybach Foundation have had a pleasure of welcoming Dennis Hopper, Quincy Jones, Kirk Douglas, and Naomi Campbell. And now, Edward Norton teams up with Producer Nathan Folks this year to create a successful charitable event similar to what they did last year in Cannes.



The Wilhelm and Karl Maybach Foundation officials hope to inspire as many of the 250 V.I.P. guests as possible to get involved and contribute to one of the Foundations’ projects. At the same time, guests will be able to enjoy the unparalleled atmosphere of one of the most renowned hotels on the Cote d’Azur and savor the breathtaking view from the cigar and liquor lounge on the waterfront terrace.



The Wilhem and Karl Maybach Foundation and the Sunflower Children Foundation are honored to have the professional poker player and World Series Of Poker bracelet winner, Jamie Gold as co-host and emcee for this event. Jamie Gold has participated in numerous charity poker tournaments and events, allowing himself to be auctioned off, making special appearances, or by purchasing buy-ins, Jamie Gold has been involved with a wide array of causes, including “Ante Up For Africa”, Andy Roddick's charity poker tournament. In the last two years Gold’s charitable efforts have helped to put up over $110 Million, which lead to the media dubbing him "The Poker Philanthropist".The event will also feature an auction that includes a wide selection of items, including a day with composer, producer and director, Quincy Jones.

And in last May 18, after the poker tournament, The Wilhem and Karl Maybach Foundation returned to the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc to hold its annual "Private Luncheon at Cannes". Numerous celebrities attended and celebrate with this year’s award winner, who will join the ranks of previous honorees Dennis Hopper and Quincy Jones. Producers Nathan Folks, Lane Carlson and Jutta Aldenhoff combined effort to make this charity event of the year at the top of the tree.

Few of the other celebrities and poker professionals like Phillip Baker joined and donated $1,500 to sit down in an exclusive poker room. Other players take part in a No Limit Texas Hold'em tournament including a $5,000 gold watch and a $15,000 Las Vegas WSOP package courtesy of Everest Poker who was the poker sponsor of this event.




On outside, some renowned guests graced the red carpet as the sun set over the beautiful Cape of Antibes. Paris Hilton with her boyfriend Doug Reinhardt.



Also attending was Willem Dafoe, in town to promote his new film Antichrist. Willem Dafoe spent the evening conversing with the rest of the guests and posing for pictures, including meeting Jamie Gold for the first time.

Emile Hirsch, star of films such as Milk and Alpha Dog also joined the party, closely followed by Watchmen super-woman Malin Akerman. Other attendees included Sunflower Children president Helena Houdova, actress and model Phoebe Price and actress Hofit Golan.

The Hangover Charity Poker Tournament

In anticipation of the release of the new comedy movie “The Hangover,” Warner Bros. Pictures hosted a celebrity charity poker tournament at The Poker Room of Caesars Palace last Friday, the stars of the latest Vegas-based comedy, “The Hangover,” will return to the scene of their soon-to-be-released film on Friday for a star-studded poker tournament.

Heather Graham, and Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper are three of the celebrities expected to attend the event, which will support Opportunity Village.

Other members of the cast, including Ed Helms and Justin Bartha, and director Todd Phillips will also participate.

The private poker tournament took place in The Poker Room at Caesars Palace.

The card game will be closed to the public.

To promote the movie, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Heather Graham and boyfriend Yaniz Raz, Justin Bartha and director Todd Phillips hosted a charity poker tournament Friday at Caesars Palace.

Heather Graham has become the latest celebrity to fall for the poker madness after hitting the tables in Las Vegas while making her new movie the Hangover.

Heather Graham admits that she never had any interest in the game before but now she's hooked - and let in gambling brings out her nasty side.


"We had a poker tournament and I did really well; I came in fourth!” ,"Poker is pretty vicious and dark. It brings out an ugly side of me that's pretty competitive." Heather Graham said.













When the stars of the new film The Hangover shot their location scenes in and near Caesars Palace, they promised to return for the press promotion.

They also wanted to do something special for our beloved local charity Opportunity Village, and our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on hand to capture the action.

True to their word, the cast led by director Todd Phillips organized a celebrity poker tournament to benefit Opportunity Village.

Taking part were actress Heather Graham and her boyfriend Yaniz Raz and actors Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and a bearded Zach Galifianakis, who played with his dad, Harry Galifianakis, and came in third place.

The poker tournament winner was Aaron Wong, who helped present the $10,000 check to Linda Smith, Opportunity Village’s director.

The movie “Hangover” premiers on June 5.

The premise of the film involves four friends: Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha who come to Las Vegas from L.A. for a bachelor party.

The men wake up the next morning missing the groom Justin Bartha, a tooth, and all memory of what happened the night before.

Their suite at Caesars Place is completely trashed, and there’s a tiger in the living room; a baby crying in the bathroom; and an unexpected wedding ring on one of their fingers.

The groomsmen are forced to retrace their steps from the night before in effort to find their friend and get him back to L.A. in time for his wedding.

While Heather Graham, who plays the woman Bradley Cooper accidentally marries during the booze-fueled night of debauchery.

PartyPoker and Paris Hilton's Poker Challenge

“We challenge Paris Hilton to take us up on the offer. Three years is a long time in show business and we’re sure she’d jump at it now - it is a simple offer for the former ‘Simple Life’ star.” A statement let off by PartyPoker this week.

Hurling down the challenge that was originally issued back in 2006, PartyPoker has once again unsealed the books on the Paris Hilton Challenge.

The days of yore in April 2006, when the hotel heiress Paris Hilton and a part time reality star and a chronic paparazzi target was allegedly enjoying her inaugural soirees around the poker table. Unaware of the pitfalls that can eventually catch up with all poker players, it is alleged that Paris Hilton lost her luxury vehicle Bentley Continental GT worth $200,000. According to many outlets in the issue, forced her parents to ban her from the family casino in Las Vegas in an attempt to control her from playing poker.

The rules of the Challenge are simple. Paris Hilton will battle on the virtual felt against World Series of Poker bracelet winner, World Poker Tour announcer and PartyPoker ambassador Mike Sexton in a heads-up match. If Paris is able to defeat the poker champion Mike Sexton, Paris will net herself one brand new Bentley to replace not only the one she lost but the one that has allegedly been vandalized.

“Forget one night in Paris, we’re offering her one night to win a replacement for her vandalized Bentley. Fortune may be on her side in many ways but, when it comes to Bentleys, it certainly doesn’t seem to be the case… we’re confident Mike Sexton would win. We challenge her to take us up on the offer. Three years is a long time in show business and we’re sure she’d jump at it now.” PartyPoker.com spokesman said.

As of press time, the socialite has not accepted or refused the challenge… which is exactly what happened when it was issued three years ago.

But Paris Hilton has a hard time staying away from the night life and the poker tables.

Paris has been seen recently at some of the other casinos in Las Vegas including the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and according to media reports, has also under go vandalism to a new Bentley that replaced the one she used as a poker bankroll.

With that in mind, PartyPoker has decided to bring back their Paris Hilton Challenge of three years ago.

It also seems that the thrills of poker have drifted down further into the Hilton family. While Paris Hilton seems to prefer the live action, her little sister Nicky Hilton is an occasional celebrity bounty in the online game during the weekly Bounty Tournament that is held on Doyle’s Room by the legendary Doyle Brunson.

Over the past three years other poker players have attempted to step up to test Paris Hilton’s dexterity on the poker tables. Three years is a long time in showbusiness and we’re sure she’d jump at it now - it is a simple offer for the former Simple Life star. Following the original offer in 2006 the likes of Clonie Gowen also made public challenges to the heiress but so far Paris has resisted.” the duo would play heads up and the winner would walk away with a $100,000 payday for the charity of their choice.

The last time Paris Hilton and poker professional Mike Sexton crossed paths at the poker table was the 2007 Celebrity Invitational in Los Angeles, when Mike Sexton found himself throwing down chips to Hilton just to keep her in the poker table.

The heiress and singer actress Paris Hilton is not likely to benefit from such charity this time around.

Keep an eye on Celebrity Poker Players Blog to find out if Paris Hilton takes Mike Sexton up on this challenge.