WSOP Main Event Chip Leader to Donate 1% of Winnings to Charity
August 19th, 2008
One of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event finalists, Dennis Phillips, has announced that he will pledge 1% of his winnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s ‘Bad Beat on Cancer’ fundraiser.
If Phillips wins the $9.12 million first place prize, and as the chip leader he is favourite to do so, his total donation would amount to $91,195. The minimum the charity is set to receive is $9,007 should Phillips finish in 9th place on the final table.
“I am thrilled to contribute a portion of my WSOP earnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation,” said Phillips. “Charity involvement has always been an important part of my life, and hopefully more poker players and final table participants with follow suit in upcoming poker circuits like the European Poker Tour.”
“Most guys get to the final table and just see a big pile of money and a new life,” fellow pro Chris Moneymaker said. “Dennis is just happy to be playing poker and sees an opportunity to help others. His efforts are inspiring to the poker community, and I’m excited to see how it all turns out in November.”
The ‘Bad Beat on Cancer Fundraiser’ began during the 2003 WSOP, when poker pros Phil Gordon and Rafe Furst started a drive to help fund cancer prevention research and education by playing poker. They asked friends and colleagues to pledge just 1% of their winnings at the WSOP Main Event to the Prevent Cancer Foundation as a tax-deductible donation, resulting in enough money to fund a research grant for an entire year.
Since it inception, ‘Bad Beat on Cancer’ has raised over $2 million and has grown to include other major poker tournaments, home games, and leagues. The initiative has inspired amateurs and poker pros alike to pledge 1% of their winnings for life including well-known players Phil Hellmuth Jr, Paul Wasicka, Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson amongst others.
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