Through the participation of two charitable tournaments and additional private donations, poker players at the 44th Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) raised $1 327 206 which will be given to ONE DROP, a charity organisation that creates sustainable water – access projects around the world.
The amount raised exceeded the $1 111 111 that goal organisers had set for themselves.
According to a WSOP statement, the campaign will continue until the 2014 WSOP begins and players at the WSOP Main Event final table in November will be asked to consider donating a further 1 percent of their winnings to the charity.
An impressive $7 Million has been raised by the poker community in just two years of partnership between WSOP and ONE DROP.
“We continue to be extremely proud of the poker community’s generosity and enthusiasm,” said Mitch Garber, Caesars Interactive Entertainment’s chief executive officer. “The marriage of prestigious events and philanthropy has generated nearly seven million dollars in WSOP donations to ONE DROP in less than two years – a remarkable achievement.”
“Again, we have created history!” said Cirque du Soleil founder and ONE DROP chairman Guy Laliberté. “I am thankful to WSOP for their dedication and to the poker community for their generosity. The real winners are the people for which ONE DROP will provide access to safe water. These families can break the cycle of poverty and have hope for a better future. Together we have shown the world once again how giving the poker community is and that the ripple effect continues on.”