More than a 120 poker enthusiasts joined professional poker player Jennifer Harman at The Venetian Poker Room on Friday, April 17, to raise more than $130,000 for the Nevada Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) (Photos Courtesy of The Venetian).
Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth and Barry Greenstein playing for the dogs at The Venetian
This is third year for the charity poker tournament and each year it is filled with poker stars and this year was no different. Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Barry Greenstein, Annie Duke, Roy Winston, Lacey Jones, Robert Williamson III and Layne Flack were just a few poker stars to turnout. The voice of Bart Simpson Nancy Cartwright, and Karina Smirnoff from Dancing with the Stars were among the celebrities in attendance raising money for a good cause.
Daniel Negreanu
Tournament director Matt Savage emceed the event and Richard Williamson III along with the help of Bart Simpson’s voice conducted a live auction in which Daniel Negreanu had a good time bidding on and winning a date with model and poker professional, Lacey Jones, and a private jet ride for him and four of his friends to anywhere on the west coast. In addition, Daniel Negreanu, Annie Duke and Layne Flack each purchased a pricey cupcake decorated with dogs and cats all in the name of charity.
Annie Duke and Karina Smirnoff meet on the red carpet
The final nine all walked away with prizes ranging from gift certificates to shows at The Venetian including Blue Man Group, Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular and Wayne Brady to two-night stays at The Venetian to tickets to Madame Tussauds and gift certificates to Canyon Ranch SpaClub and much more. The first place prize included a seat in the 2009 $10,000 World Series of Poker Main Event and a Curtis and Company watch.
Jennifer Harman on the red carpet for the poker charity tournament benefiting the NSPCA at The Venetian
Prior to the 5 p.m. tournament, the stars walked the carpet with animals currently living at the NSPCA.
Layne Flack on the red carpet for the poker charity tournament benefiting the NSPCA at The Venetian
The Nevada SPCA is a nonprofit organization in Las Vegas, which operates a no-kill animal sanctuary giving loving comfort, food, and veterinary care to thousands of animals every year. Many of the animals thrive in environments without cages where they are free to stroll. If you would like to make a donation to the SPCA, go to http://www.nevadaspca.org. For information on other ways you can directly support the Nevada SPCA no-kill animal shelter contact Doug Duke at (702) 873-7722 or email the NevadaSPCA@aol.com.
Photos Courtesy of The Venetian.
