During this season of giving, many poker players around the world are reaching into their bankrolls and sacrificing grinding time to help out those less fortunate. One such person is poker pro and noted poker personality Bernard Lee, who recently made the holidays a little brighter for a number of needy children and their families in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
On December 20th, Lee and his children delivered gift packages to over 50 kids at the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC). Each package, valued at $200, was donated as a part of the Full House Charity Program, created by Lee in 2011. Lee originally teamed up with Cabot Cheese upon launching the program, pledging to donate $500 for every full house he made while playing in live poker tournaments around the world. Now Full House provides a minimum of $10,000 in donations to organizations in New England that specialize in aiding children in need.
“I hope these packages make the holidays a little brighter for these deserving families,” Lee said in a press release. “My family and I look forward to this special night every year, when we can help spread the joy of the holiday season. The sole purpose of the Full House Charity Program Giving is to give back to the community and put smiles on the faces of these children and their families.”
Chili’s Grill and Bar Restaurants and poker apparel company RunGoodGear.com have co-sponsored the donations, providing many of the gifts that were included in the packages. Each package included gift certificates for a family dinner at Chili’s, Chili’s drawstring bags, RunGoodGear.com sweatshirts, books, toys, balls, and more. Lee accepted special requests from each child (and what child doesn’t have a Christmas wish list?) and honored every one. The Eastern Poker Tour, which runs poker events at bars in the region, also donated many of the toys and games.
“Bernard’s gift giving has become a wonderful tradition for our Empowerment Group Program participants and their families at GLFHC. The children really appreciate his thoughtfulness and generosity with the gifts he gives,” said the GLFHC’s director of Integrative Medicine and Group Programs, Dr. Jeffrey S. Geller. “We also appreciate his message of pursuing something you love as a career, as passion is perhaps the most powerful motivational force in our lives.”
Chili’s had already established its own tradition, holding Give Back Nights, in which it diverts 10 percent of its sales on a given night to non-profit charitable organizations. This is its second year partnering with the Full House Charity Program. Patrick McClelland, area director of Chili’s-Pepper Dining Inc., said, “Joining Bernard and partnering with the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is a way for us to reach out and help provide an enjoyable holiday for parents and children alike.”
Tana Karn, president and CEO of RunGoodGear.com, said the decision to accept Lee’s invitation to team-up was an easy one, “an instant call.”
Bernard Lee rose to prominence in the poker world when he had an emotional run at the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event, making it all the way to 13th place in front of ESPN’s cameras. All told, he was won over $2 million in his live tournament career, but has made a bigger name for himself as a television commentator, poker columnist, and radio personality. He currently the host of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on Rounders Radio and is a writer for ESPN.com, Card Player magazine, and All-In magazine and was co-host of the ESPN show “Inside Deal.” Lee has also written articles here at Poker News Daily.
