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Published: January 13 2012

FORT LAUDERDALE – (January 13, 2012) – On Sunday, January 8th, 93 poker players, professionals and amateurs, joined local sports celebrities, to go all in for charity; raising nearly $34,000 to benefit Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc. and the SunSentinel Children’s Fund.

Proceeds from the inaugural PermaPlate Charity Poker Tournament hosted by the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park and All In Free Poker, will benefit families affected by domestic violence, as well as organizations supporting low-income families.

“We feel that this year was the beginning of something great. It was a unique event that mixed the strategy and intensity of poker, but tied in the element of raising funds, benefitting two great causes,” said Mary Helen Olejnick, Community Programs Development Manager for the SunSentinel Children’s Fund.

The Texas Hold’Em tournament began at 2:30pm and ended around 10:00pm. Players competed to win 14 prizes, which consisted of poker packages, luxurious vacations and a 55” LCD HDTV, however, in poker only the best hand wins. The tournament grand prize of one entry into the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas, NV, valued at $10,000 was won by South Florida resident, Frank Giordano.

Mike Smith, Director of Poker for the Isle Casino, said, “We were very pleased with the charities and their efforts and look forward to doing it again next year; bigger and better.”

Local sports celebrities were not left behind, Scott Clemmensen and Scottie Upshall from the Florida Panthers, Randy Moller, Florida Panthers Alumni and 560AM announcer, as well as, Jed Weaver and Shawn Wooden, former pro football players, put on their game face and helped raise awareness for two great causes.

Owner of All In Free Poker, Bryan Oulton came in third at the tournament and expressed his hope that next year, “the tournament gets more active participation and continued diligence from the poker community. Their support can help the charities in their efforts to end domestic violence and support the needs of local low –income children and families.”

All parties involved look forward to a second annual poker tournament, to benefit Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc. and the SunSentinel Children’s Fund. “This is an exciting new event to benefit Women In Distress. Special thanks to Isle Casino, All in Free Poker, PermaPlate and all our community and media partners. We are building new relationships and spreading the word about our mission to keep families and children safe,” said President and CEO of Women In Distress, Mary Riedel.

For pictures from the Inaugural PermaPlate Charity Poker Tournament, visit www.l.dropbox.com

About Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc.
Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc. (WID) is the only nationally accredited, state-certified, full service domestic violence center serving Broward County. Our mission is to stop domestic violence abuse for everyone through intervention, education and advocacy. Services include counseling, emergency shelter, respite care, advocacy/case management, 24-hour crisis line, referrals to emergency assistance, community and professional trainings, volunteer programs, and a thrift store. For more information on Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc., please call (954) 332-3459 or visit www.womenindistress.org.
 
About SunSentinel Children’s Fund
The fund awards grants to nonprofit organizations supporting the needs of local low-income children and families. The Children’s Fund supports Child and Youth Education (K-post-secondary, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Housing, and Hunger programming.