Professional poker player and media personality Bernard Lee has teamed up with Cabot Cheese to create the Full House Charity Program, which will donate a minimum of $20,000 to children’s organizations around New England each year.
“The Full House Charity Program was born out of a desire to combine my greatest loves — poker and my son and daughter – into a fundraiser that will aid youth throughout New England,” said Lee, who is also spokesperson for Foxwoods Resort Casino and its World Poker Tour-branded Poker Room. “I’ve been so fortunate in the world of poker, it’s only natural that I give back to the community.”
Lee will donate $500 to the charity for each full house he makes while playing tournaments all over the world. Last year, Lee cashed in 10 tournaments on the live circuit, including a third place finish at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Regional Championship for $236,368. He has more than $1.75 million in career earnings, his biggest score coming at the 2005 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas, where he took 13th place for $400,000.
Co-host of ESPN.com’s weekly online poker show “ESPN Inside Deal,” Lee is also host of “The Bernard Lee Poker Show” on radio in Massachusetts and simulcast on Rounders Radio, the largest online poker talk radio station in the world.
Lee is also a poker columnist here at Poker News Daily and writes for the Boston Herald, ESPN.com, All-In Magazine, and other media outlets. He has released two books, “The Final Table” Volume I and Volume II, which are compilations of his Sunday Herald poker columns. He is also a commentator for the WSOP and Eastern Poker Tour.
Cabot Cheese, in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, is known as makers of “The World’s Best Cheddar” and was thrilled to be involved in this charitable concept.
“Cabot is pleased to partner with Bernard Lee and the Full House Charity Program to benefit numerous children’s programs throughout the greater New England area,” said Cabot Senior Vice President of Marketing Roberta MacDonald. “By aligning the Cabot brand with one of the world’s premier poker professionals, Bernard Lee, we’re able to reach a broader male demographic and expose more consumers to our products. But best of all, we’re able to make a difference in the lives of those who are served by the Full House Charity Program.”
Poker players continue to step up and show their generosity by helping those in need each year. Lee has participated in several charitable events during his career, but is just one of thousands to take part in charity poker tournaments. The most recognized event takes place at the WSOP each summer with the star-studded Ante Up for Africa, founded by Annie Duke and Don Cheadle. The organization was created in 2007 and has raised more than $3 million for relief efforts in Darfur. Celebrities such as Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Ray Romano, and Brad Garrett have participated.
Other poker pros who have eagerly lent a hand to charitable foundations include Jennifer Harman, Phil Hellmuth, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, Daniel Negreanu, Howard Lederer, Doyle Brunson, Phil Gordon, Rafe Furst, Robert Williamson III, Kirk Morrison, and Shannon Elizabeth.