Through Eva's Heroes, a charitable organization spearheaded by Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria, the Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament they host annually every October is now on its 10th year this 2017, and the final table of this tournament was played at Eva's Heroes Celebrity Casino Night Event on October 26, 2017 Thursday 8 p.m. at the Witte Museum, San Antonio.
In the past, the event has attracted Celebrity Chef Monica Pope from Bravo's Top Chef, Extra! Host Mario Lopez, and even 13-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth. Some of this year's visitors were Special Olympics Global Messenger Philip Scott Mena, Texas Senator José Menéndez, and local news reporter Bill Taylor.
Eva Longoria told Taylor, "This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we love all the support we get in San Antonio. We started this amazing organization, which started as an afterschool program, and now has just grown beyond that into summer programs, field trips, total inclusion of special needs children."
This year's final table (of the last 9 remaining players) have up for grabs a variety of prizes they can win such as: two complimentary tickets to Eva's Heroes Casino Night ($600 value) for each finalist, San Antonio Rodeo Tickets, a Trip to Las Vegas, and what's most exciting of all is a seat in the 2018 WSOP Tournament!
Interested participants who register online can buy-in for $250, but if they go to the actual event and join there (IF space is still available), they would have to pay $300 for the buy-in. Unlimited $100 rebuys available until the break (at approximately 2 p.m.) if players "bust out". The starting chip count shall be 10,000 with blind raises every 20 minutes.
As usual of course, the event was a smashing success, and since its debut it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.
This year's theme event was "Fire and Ice", complete with food and drinks, a celebrity red carpet, and music by Finding Friday. Also, a silent auction was put up and items offered included tickets to a taping of Saturday Night Live and even African safari passes which are all for raising money for Eva's Heroes charity, which has a program to help young adults and teens with special needs and intellectual disabilities.
The charity poker tournament consists of a $300 buy-in, with Clay Siliba who got third place and won a poker party for 20 donated by Casino Fun, whereas Bryon Shelke got second place and won a rodeo VIP package donated by Urban Concrete.
It was Walt Ruman who got the first prize and won a seat into the 2018 WSOP Main Event!
Eva's Heroes Executive Director Shawne Zakaria said, "Eva's Heroes would like to thank everyone who entered our Texas hold'em Poker tournament and who attended Celebrity Casino Night. The amount raised from both the tournament and gala will allow us to provide and expand services for teens and young adults with intellectual special needs."
Source:
https://www.cardschat.com/news/eva-longorias-celebrity-casino-night-marks-10-years-of-poker-tournaments-for-good-cause-53695
https://www.facebook.com/evasheroes/photos/gm.293297651138832/10155556386744463/?type=3&theater
