Ultimate Bet’s Phil Hellmuth is once again doing his part in giving back to the families of police officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty. The 11-time bracelet winner is teaming up with the Taser Foundation for Fallen Officers to host the 5th annual Hold’em For Heroes Celebrity Tournament November 19-21 at Fort McDowell Casino in Arizona.
Last year, the event raised over $500,000 for the foundation and was labeled the “most successful charity poker tournament in the country” by national poker media. To date the TASER Foundation has awarded over $2.29 million to the families of fallen law enforcement officers in the United States and Canada. In 2008, 141 officers in the United States and Canada were tragically killed in the line of duty.
In a press release sent out by Ultimate Bet, Hellmuth was quoted as saying, “over the last several years, and especially since 9/11, my respect for policemen, firemen and the people who protect us has risen higher and higher. Our Hold’em for Heroes charity poker tournament gives money to the Fallen Officers Foundation, which supports officers and the families of officers who were killed in the line of duty. My friends and I are grateful to these brave men and women and we are proud to help.”
Joining Hellmuth at the event will be fellow Ultimate Bet Team member Brandon Cantu, Layne Flack, Todd Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, Kenna James, Clonie Gowen, Roy Winston, and several other poker pros and celebrities. Country music artist Mark Wills has signed on to co-host the event with Hellmuth.
There will be three separate tournaments running during the three-day event. A $115 buy-in with unlimited $50 re-buys and a $50 add-on will take place on Nov. 19. Then a $265 buy-in with unlimited $125 re-buys and a $125 add-on will be played on Nov. 20, and on Nov. 21 a high-roller $1,000 buy-in with unlimited $500 re-buys with a $500 add-on will round out the festivities. Half of all the buy-ins, re-buys and add-ons will be donated to the TASER Foundation for Fallen Police Officers. The top two prizes in each tournament are a combination of cash prize and a seat in a one-table tournament to be played during the evening of Nov. 21 with Hellmuth for a $10,000 Main Event seat at the 2010 World Series of Poker.
Prizes will also be awarded for special events within the celebrity golf tournament held on Nov. 20. One lucky player could even win a 2010 Mercedes for making a hole-in-one.
Here’s a look at the full schedule of the three-day event:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
12:00 pm: $115 Buy-In Tournament first seating (Ft. McDowell Casino)
7:00 pm: $115 Buy-In Tournament second seating (Ft. McDowell Casino)
Friday, November 20, 2009
12:00 pm: $265 Buy-In Tournament first seating (Ft. McDowell Casino)
12:15 pm – 5:15 pm: Celebrity Golf Tournament (We-Ko-Pa Golf Club)
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Celebrity Media time (Radisson Hospitality Suite)
6:00 pm: VIP Reception at The Peaks Steakhouse
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Meet & Greet for Tribal leaders (Ft. McDowell Casino)
7:00 pm: $265 Buy-In Tournament second seating (Ft. McDowell Casino Poker Room)
7:30 pm: Poker Class for Celebrities (Radisson Hospitality Suite)
Saturday, November, 21, 2008
10:30 am – 11:30 am: General public meet & greet (Ft. McDowell Casino)
12:00 pm: $1,000 Buy-In High Roller Tournament (Ft. McDowell Casino)
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Dinner for families, celebrities, and VIP law enforcement guests (Ft. McDowell Casino outside courtyard)
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Resume tournament (Ft. McDowell Casino)
8:00 pm: Final Grand Prize Table (Ft. McDowell Casino)
Interested players should sign up at HoldemForHeroes.com.
Things like these should be done because we must help the families of those brave citizens who lost their lives while serving nation.