Professional poker player Jennifer Harman hosted two days of fundraising activities in Reno, Nevada last week, raising more than $111,000 for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).
Notable attendees included professional poker players Marco Traniello, Andy Bloch, Howard Lederer, Tiffany Michelle, Lacey Jones, Maria Ho, Linda Johnson, Todd Brunson, Roy Winston, Lee Watkinson, Lee Markholt, David Plastik, Debo DeBernardi, Shawn Van Asdale, Jan Fisher, Jeff Madsen and Marsha Waggoner, and ESPN commentator Lon McEachern, baseball legends Vida Blue and Tido Fuentes, World Champion snowboarder and X-Games judge Jeff Brushie, and NBA veterans Michael Brown and Doug Lee.
“This is the largest field of any charity event I have hosted,” said Harman. “The outpouring of support exceeded any expectations. I can’t thank the poker community enough for its generosity.”
Harman took a year away from poker to have her second kidney transplant in 2004. After receiving a second kidney through organ donation, Harman founded Creating Organ Donation Awareness (CODA), a non-profit organization to raise money and awareness for the cause.
The charity poker tournament attracted more than 300 participants, including 22 ten-player teams participating in a “FullTilt Throw Down” side competition. Though Peppermill Casino donated $8,000 to sponsor four ten-player teams, they were no match for Atlantis Casino’s “Team 2,” accumulating the most points to receive a “FullTilt Throw Down” team trophy and ten team member prize packages. Team Oaks Casino and Team LIPS tied for second place. A “Ro! Cham! Beau!” tiebreaker determined Oaks Casino as the “FullTilt Throw Down” team silver medal winners. LIPS team members each received third place bronze medals.
“We couldn’t be happier with the turnout,” stated National Kidney Foundation CEO Christopher Kelley. “This event raised an enormous amount of awareness around our cause.”
William Roberts of Reno, Nevada was the overall individual winner of the Jennifer Harman Charity Poker Tournament and received a Legacy Alliance custom crystal trophy, a $5,000 World Poker Challenge entry, and a Curtis & Co. Watch. Tom Galusha, Jim fisher, Wei Jin, Armas Schwartz, Troy Wallace, David Imburgia, Sandy Kasinowicz, Kim Rios, and Yarom Limor placed second through tenth, consecutively.
“It’s always great to play poker for a good cause,” exclaimed Roberts after his win. “I was just glad to be a part of it. Jennifer did a great job and everyone had a blast.”
