All In For Kids Poker Tournament Raises More than $812,000 for CHOP

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and WPT Foundation's 10th annual All In for Kids Poker Tournament took place on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at the Mandarin Oriental New York, raising more than $812,000 to advance CHOP’s brain tumor research.

The award-winning tournament, hosted by poker pro Phil Hellmuth, is the largest charity poker event benefiting a major U.S. children’s hospital. Sponsored by the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation and International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association, the event brought together professional athletes, World Poker Tour professional poker players, donors, clinicians and grateful patient families for an exciting and worthwhile evening.

“The reality is that more children die from brain cancers than any other cancer,” said Madeline Bell, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “While there is still much work to be done, the funds generated from this event will help to fuel important research that will be a gateway to future breakthroughs. We are especially grateful to our friends at the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation and International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association, whose generous support made the evening possible.”

“It’s my pleasure to once again team up with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for this important event,” said Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour. “We are honored to support an institution who continuously provides life-changing healthcare to children.”

The All In for Kids Poker Tournament was co-founded by Daniel and Beth Shak. In attendance were many professional poker players, including Victor Ramdin, Vanessa Selbst, Andy Frankenberger and winner of the tournament, Anna Khait.

The funds raised at the event will advance CHOP’s brain tumor research. Brain tumors in children are much different than brain tumors in adults, and CHOP is dedicated to improving treatment options and long-term outcomes for these children. CHOP researchers are actively involved in ongoing pediatric brain tumor research through the Children’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC) a collaborative, multi-institutional research program. CBTTC researchers are focused on better understanding what’s happening in these tumor cells on a molecular level by creating the largest repository of brain tumor tissue in the world.

Past beneficiaries of the All In for Kids Poker Tournament include CHOP’s Cardiac Center, the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, food allergy research, Palliative Care, autism research and care, the Center for Childhood Cancer Research, the Division of Neurosurgery, and the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment.

About Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children’s Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide.  Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country.  In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 546-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents.

About World Poker Tour

World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently producing its 15th season, which airs on FOX Sports Regional Networks in the United States. Season XV of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com, a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 35 states across the United States. ClubWPT.com also sponsors Season 3 of the WPT Alpha8 series of super-high roller poker tournaments which airs on FOX Sports 1 in the United States. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. WPT Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of Ourgame International Holdings, Ltd. For more information, go to www.WPT.com.