PokerWorks

The charity event of the summer is growing and changing. But it is coming up soon – this Tuesday, August 26th – at the site of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. The Poker Players Alliance and the Paralyzed Veterans of America teamed up for a fundraising poker tournament, “Poker at the Ballpark,” which is adding Hollywood figures to the guest list, making it a can’t-miss event, though there have been some significant changes to the prizes available.

At 9:30pm on Tuesday night, the place to be will be the club level of Coors Field in Denver, where the VIP reception will welcome such players as Ben Affleck, Andy Bloch, and Barry Greenstein. Most recently, Erik Seidel has confirmed his attendance, and several actors have been added to the list – Seth Meyers, Paul Rudd, and Sarah Silverman. The poker tournament is then scheduled to begin promptly at 10pm with the star-studded roster of players.

Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance John Pappas said, “The PPA is honored to have these talented actors join us in raising much needed funds for those who have fought to protect our country. We look forward to a great event and encourage everyone to donate to this worthy cause and thank our nation’s veterans for their service.”

As mentioned, there have been some alterations to the tournament entry and prizes available. First, it has been made clear that no funds are required to attend or play in the tournament, though voluntary donations are being sought to benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Even so, an RSVP is required to get in the door, which can be obtained by contacting Nichole at nicholek@pva.org and is encouraged as space is limited.

Second, it had been advertised that the winner of the tournament would walk away with a $10,000 seat to the 2009 World Series of Poker main event. However, the Colorado Charitable Gaming laws prohibit the awarding of such a prize to anyone based on how they perform in a non-monetary poker game. There will still be 175 door prizes, but they will be distributed based on a random drawing.

Despite the changes that had to be made to comply with Colorado laws, poker pros and Hollywood celebrities are anxious to attend and support such a great cause. The Paralyzed Veterans of America is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting military veterans with disabilities, as it has been doing since its formation in 1946. The group gives paralyzed veterans help regarding medical research pertaining to their injuries, education about civil rights and accessibility, as well as advocating for health care and other benefits.

More information about the Paralyzed Veterans of America can be found at www.PVA.org , and details about the PPA and this tournament are at www.PokerPlayersAlliance.org.