Press Release
WORLD POKER TOUR® SELECTS CHRYSALIS AS OFFICIAL CHARITY FOR CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL
WORLD POKER TOUR® SELECTS CHRYSALIS AS OFFICIAL CHARITY FOR CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL
Entertainment Tonight’s Mark Steines and Leanza Cornett Named Co-Hosts of Feb. 19 Event at Commerce Casino
LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, Jan. 18) – The World Poker Tour® is honored to announce Chrysalis (www.changelives.org) as the official charity partner for the 9th annual WPT® Celebrity Invitational. This is the second consecutive year Chrysalis has been the beneficiary of this event.
A non-profit organization that aims to change the lives of people through jobs, Chrysalis has helped more than 35,000 people out of homelessness and poverty and on to the path toward self-sufficiency over the last 25 years. A top-notch organization that delivers more than 91% of every dollar raised to its clients, Chrysalis has helped more than 400 people a day during this economic downturn.
"Chrysalis is thrilled and honored to be named the beneficiary charity of the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational for the second year in a row. Last year's event was a tremendous success and allowed us to further our vital mission,” said Mark Loranger, Chrysalis, CEO. “We look forward to partnering with the WPT once again and enjoying what will surely be an entertaining and successful event."
WPT’s signature event takes place on Saturday, February 19 at Commerce Casino in Commerce, CA (Los Angeles), the world’s largest poker casino, which also has put up the $200,000 prize money.
Mark Steines, the longtime host of Entertainment Tonight, and his wife, former Miss America and Entertainment Tonight host Leanza Cornett, will serve as Celebrity co-hosts of the star-studded evening that showcases A-list celebrities and poker professionals competing against each other in the most fun tournament of the year.
The Celebrity Invitational has a history of bringing out Hollywood’s Who’s Who, with such talents as Vince Vaughn, James Woods, Jenny McCarthy, Ray Romano, Jason Alexander, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Tilly, Jon Favreau, Camryn Manheim, Cheryl Hines, Kathy Griffin and hundreds of others having sat down at the felt.
This year promises even bigger names, as the World Poker Tour is honored to align itself with Bill Overton and Joe Lake, who will be responsible for handling celebrity involvement and charitable oversight.
Lake was one of the co-founders of the Children’s Miracle Network, running day-to-day operations of the organization for 18 years and serving as Executive Producer of CMN’s annual television telethon. Under Lake’s guidance, CMN has raised approximately $4.3 billion for 17 million children in 170 children’s hospitals in the United States and Canada. Since his “retirement,” Lake has served as a Board Member at three different companies while lending his expertise to more than a half dozen charities.
Overton, a former NFL player, actor and model, serves as a media consultant.
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Media Contacts:
WPT
Haley Jones, 323-330-9900
hjones@worldpokertour.com
Commerce Casino
Jackie Lapin, (818) 707-1473
jackie@jackielapinmediarelations.com
About WPT Enterprises, Inc.
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT has filmed more than 350 hours of programming broadcast in over 150 countries and is currently filming its all-new ninth season that will air on FSN. WPT also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which is available in 38 states across the U.S. Additionally, WPT participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of PartyGaming Plc. For more information, visit www.worldpokertour.com.
About Commerce Casino
Commerce Casino, the largest poker casino in the world, has more than 200 tables featuring about every form of poker: Texas Hold‘em, 7-Card Stud, Omaha, Lowball, Pot Limit, Mexican Poker, Pineapple, Draw, Low-Ball and many others. Also offered are Baccarat --with the most tables in California--, Pan and California games. Commerce Casino is also recognized for its innovative “Bring Your Home Game to Commerce” program enabling poker fans to invite friends/family for a casual home game, bachelor party or birthday celebration with a professional dealer in a casino setting. Horseracing fans can also find the Commerce Casino Racebook a great setting for off-track betting. Commerce Casino is located at 6131 East Telegraph Rd., Commerce, CA 90040, just off the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at the Washington Blvd. exit. For more information, go to CommerceCasino.com or call 323.721.2100
