National Poker Week continued Wednesday with poker pros like Annie Duke, Andy Bloch, and Greg Raymer in Washington, D.C., as well as about 35 Poker Players Alliance state directors. What better time or place to join forces with the USO to raise money for wounded soldiers through a star-studded charity poker tournament?

After the first full day of lobbying on Capitol Hill for the pro-online poker legislation, members of the PPA gathered with some of the most well-known poker pros in the business, various members of Congress and their staffers, and approximately 30 wounded soldiers to play a poker tournament at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill to benefit the USO of Metropolitan Washington. The evening began with an offering of food and drinks, along with a presentation by PPA Executive Director John Pappas of a $25,000 donation to the USO, followed by the singing of the national anthem by PPA member Ivan Neville.

The amount given to the USO was supplemented when the poker tournament began, as $100 rebuys were in effect for the first several levels. Pro poker players like Dennis Phillips and talk show host Montel Williams immediately put bounties on their own heads as well as purchased rebuys for wounded soldiers who were eliminated at their tables. Duke and Howard Lederer launched into good-natured sibling rivalry as they each attempted to purchase more rebuys than the other. The rebuy madness eventually raised another $10,000 for the USO by the time the evening had concluded.

All in all, the PPA and the 150 players in attendance for the night raised $35,000 for the USO (United Services Organizations) that provide assistance and programs for soldiers recovering in military hospitals from service-related injuries. In addition to the 30 wounded soldiers who participated in the tournament, the poker pros in the tournament included Duke, Lederer, Phillips, Bloch, Raymer, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Jordan Morgan. Also taking part in the evening’s festivities were numerous members of Congress, including Xavier Becerra (CA), Shelley Berkley (NV), Pete King (NY), Rom Perriello (VA), Lynn Westmoreland (GA), Martin Heinrich (NM), and Ed Perlmutter (CO).

When the madness and excitement of the tournament concluded, Army Sergeant Bret Chevalier claimed victory in the event, which came along with a donated prize of a paid trip to Las Vegas. Coming in second was Donna Lawton, representing Utah for the PPA, who won a World Series of Poker Academy package.

USO-Metro President Elaine Rogers commented, “The Poker Players Alliance provided our wounded warriors with a fantastic evening and the opportunity to play poker alongside several pros. We are thankful to the PPA for their generous donation and a great event.”

Added Pappas, “The Poker Players Alliance is proud to support USO-Metro and all they do for recovering servicemen and women and their families. It was our honor to host the wounded warriors, and we are grateful to the members of Congress and professional players who came out to the tournament to show their support.”

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