While the world descends on Las Vegas this summer for the 2012 World Series of Poker, one of the top casino operations on the East Coast will be teaming up with arguably the top auto racing tour in the world for a special charity event.
The Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will team up with NASCAR this summer, prior to the Pocono 400 on June 10, to raise money for two worthy causes. “The Pocono Celebrity Poker Showdown” will be held on June 7 featuring several drivers and celebrities in action on the felt, with the proceeds raised by the event benefitting the NASCAR Foundation and the Armed Forces Foundation. Through several donation opportunities, interested poker players and race fans will be able to take part in the tournament.
These limited playing spots are tiered in three levels of donations. For a $250 donation, the player will not only get a seat at the tables but will also participate in a special pre-tournament “meet and greet” with the celebrities and drivers who will be taking part in the event. For $150, a player will be at the tables for all of the poker action, while a $50 donation will get fans of poker and stock car racing rail side for the poker tournament. For the victor, an all-expense paid trip to the Mohegan Sun in Montville, CT, or a VIP Pocono Raceway race weekend is the top prize.
“We’re so pleased to partner with the Pocono Celebrity Charity Poker Showdown on this charitable event benefitting the NASCAR Foundation and the Armed Forces Foundation,” said Bobby Soper, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. “The spirit of racing is in our DNA and we look forward to a successful poker showdown.”
Brandon Igdalsky, the Pocono Raceway president and CEO, echoed those thoughts during the announcement of the event. “We are very excited about the opportunity to team up with two charitable organizations,” he stated. “Race fans will have the chance to play against some of NASCAR’s top drivers and personalities, with all proceeds benefiting the efforts of The NASCAR Foundation and the Armed Forces Foundation. We anticipate a great event and sincerely thank all involved, especially Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, for all their support.”
One driver that has already committed to the event is former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch, the driver of the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Impala. “Both the NASCAR Foundation and Armed Forces Foundation do a lot of work to help their respective communities and in order to do that they depend greatly on the generosity of people who can contribute,” Busch commented during the announcement. “It’s great that Pocono Raceway is helping in this way with the poker tournament. It’s just a fun way to raise money and draw attention to the work of the two groups.”
The NASCAR Foundation, created in 2006, supports nonprofit causes that in particular focus on children. Through such causes as NASCAR Dreams, where children with life threatening illnesses are given the opportunity to meet their NASCAR heroes, and Speediatrics, a special children’s wing at the Halifax Health Medical Center, the NASCAR Foundation has raised millions for these and other worthy causes.
The Armed Forces Foundation offers assistance to active duty and retired military members and their families. The AFF provides assistance to families of wounded veterans, including travel and lodging for families to go to their loved one, and also offer several other forms of assistance to military members and their families.
The Thursday night of poker with the greats of NASCAR and other various celebrities should provide some entertainment for those who can’t make it to the bright lights of Las Vegas for the WSOP. For more information on the event or to register for the Pocono Celebrity Poker Showdown, visit NASCAR.com/Unites to learn more.
