MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Asian Poker Tour (APT) took another step towards its goal of helping the less fortunate when it held the Ray-Ban Celebrity Charity Poker Hand-Over Ceremony last Thursday, July 24, at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati City.
The ceremony was a simple gathering where the APT awarded cheques to various charities from all over the Philippines. These organizations were chosen by the different celebrities who participated in the Ray-Ban Celebrity Poker Challenge at the APT Philippines event last May 27. Celebrities who participated included Gary Lising, Arwind Santos, DJ Mo Twister, Jinno Rufino, Eric Mana, and Vince Hizon.
The biggest donation went to the Children of Myanmar foundation through the Philippine Band of Mercy charity, which took home PHP 250,000. The charity was chosen by Lal Gopwani, who was the winner of the celebrity poker event. Second-placer Jinno Rufino’s charity, Bantay Bata, received PHP 120,000. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), chosen by third-placer Lander Vera Perez, was awarded PHP 60,000. Fourth-placer Cynthia Carrion’s chosen charity, the 8000 foundation, was given PHP 30,000. All other charities chosen by their respective celebrities were awarded a cheque for PHP 10,000 each.
There were a total of fourteen charities awarded at the APT’s first celebrity charity hand-over ceremony – Philippine Band of Mercy, Bantay Bata, PAWS, the 8000 Foundation, Cribs Foundation, the Everyday is Your Birthday Foundation, the House of Refuge Foundation, K.I.D.S. Foundation, Kythe Inc., Operation Smile Philippines, CHILD Foundation, the Philippine National Red Cross, Project Brave Kids, and the Vince Hizon Foundation.
The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is Asia’s biggest and original poker tour. The brand was recently acquired by AsianLogic (AIM:ALOG). As part of the new organization of the APT, four events will be held across Asia in 2008. Next year, the Tour plans to increase this to a total of six events. Each tournament is set to attract live players as well as internet players who will qualify via online satellites. For more information, log on to www.asianpt.com.
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