Feeling lucky? Why not try your luck for a great cause while mingling with celebrities, top athletes and professional poker players at TACA's “ANTE UP FOR AUTISM” fundraising event.
This premier “Gala and Casino Night” will benefit TACA – a national non-profit organization with a mission to educate, empower and provide support to families affected by autism.
On Saturday, October 12 starting at 5:00 pm (general admission/poker tournament starts at 8pm) at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort (One Monarch Beach Resort) in Dana Point, guests will have the opportunity to gamble the night away and, at the same time, help families affected by autism. This luxurious event will offer a VIP red carpet entrance, cocktails, tournament poker, live & silent auction and tips from poker stars.
Both actor Joseph Reitman and pro poker player Michelle Lau (co-hosts of this year’s event) have supported TACA for years. Reitman has appeared in over 50 television episodes including recurring roles on “Married with Children,” “Charmed,” “Hudson Street” and “The Shield” and also acted in over 20 feature films including “The Perfect Storm,” “Clueless,” “American Pie 2,” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Lady In The Water.” In the poker world, he won UB.com’s Stone Cold Nuts tournament where he bested 2,774 players to win $266,000. He also cashed in the WSOP three times and was a Full Tilt Pro for two years. He was also seen on “The Best Damn Poker Show” during its first season.
Since 2005, Lau has been hitting the professional poker circuit. She has had many final table appearances and victories throughout the US and Europe. Lau co-founded FIDPA (Federation Internationale de Poker Association) with Marcel Luske “The Flying Dutchman,” to unite the poker industry and to ensure the game is played with fairness. In 2008, she wrote “The International Poker Rules” — a standard set of fully modifiable tournament poker rules that is currently used in card rooms around the world. Today, she travels the world playing poker and is actively involved with various charity organizations including TACA, Starkey Hearing Foundation, Opportunity Village and Pros for Africa.
In addition to Reitman and Lau, confirmed special guests include actor Johnathon Schaech, actor Tony Denison (TNT’s New Fall Show “Major Crimes”), actor David Marciano (Showtime’s “Homeland”), actress Lauren Potter (FOX’s “GLEE”), actress Amy Davidson, actress/TV Host Nicky Whelan, and Ante Up to Up for Autism Red Carpet Host Brittany Rodriguez.
Past special guests included actor/director Jeremy London, actress Amber Lancaster, actress Lacey Chabert, actor Ken Davitian, actor Todd Stashwick, and TV star Alexis Bellino of “The Real Housewives of OC.” Past professional athletes included Krisztina Fazekas Zur (2012 Olympic Gold Medalist – Canoeing), Kerry Walsh (Olympic gold medal winner – beach volleyball), Casey Jennings (professional beach volleyball player), Brett Hughes (Lacrosse player), Ryan Sheckler (professional skateboarder) and Gretchen Bleiler (professional snowboarder – 2010 X Games Superpipe Gold Medalist). Past pro poker players included Marcel Luske, Jamie Gold, Kenna James, David Mosikian and Joe Sebok.
Last year’s event raised more than $264,000 benefiting families across the United States touched by autism. Tickets are on sale now at www.anteupforautism.org.
