First Annual Phil Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare Generates Nearly $140,000

Living Legend of Poker Generates nearly $140,000 for Agrace HospiceCare. at First Annual Phil Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare

(MADISON, Wis.) – More than 400 poker fans gathered in the penthouse of Madison’s Arbor Gate building December 18 to join Madison native and 11-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Hellmuth for an all-day charity poker tournament benefiting a local nonprofit. The first-annual Phil Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare event generated nearly $140,000 to support the people served by Agrace HospiceCare., south central Wisconsin’s nonprofit community hospice providing assistance to more than 650 area patients and families each day.

Poker players went head-to-head against Phil “The Poker Brat” Hellmuth throughout the tournament, in addition to testing their Texas Hold’em skills alongside local and national celebrities including Barry Alverez, Matt Kenseth, Jerry Kelly, Casey Fitzrandolph and poker pros Eric Baldwin and Gary Debanardi. After knocking out the other players at the final table, poker pro Mark “Poker Ho” Kroon walked away with the Phil Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare trophy to conclude more than nine hours of tournament play.

“Phil Hellmuth’s Hold’em with Agrace HospiceCare was a great night and definitely the biggest charity poker tournament Madison has ever seen,” said Hellmuth. “It was great to emcee this event while I am home for the holidays and spend an evening with poker players to benefit Agrace HospiceCare. We’re going to be back to make it an even bigger and better event next year.”
The evening also included a silent auction and one-of-a-kind raffle prizes including a custom-made, autographed poker table won by Darren Berg, a two-year lease on a Zimbrick Honda Accord LX awarded to Art Luetke and the grand prize, a seat to play in the 2011 World Series of Poker (a $10,000 value), that went to C. Joseph Anderson.

Contact: Liz Kopling, Media Relations Specialist
Office:  (608) 327-7219    Cell:  (608) 772-9653

Agrace HospiceCare. is a nonprofit, community-based hospice dedicated to providing physical, emotional and spiritual support to patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses. With offices in Madison and Janesville, Agrace HospiceCare serves residents in Dane, Green, Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties.

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