HOLLYWOOD (April 22, 2022) – On Friday, April 22nd Hollywood PAL’s Annual Texas Hold’em Charity Poker Tournament took place at the Historic Pantages Theatre. This was a landmark event for Hollywood PAL raising $75,000 for our officer and volunteer led youth programs.
The evening’s attendees included local police and firemen, members of the Hollywood Partnership and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, and a diverse array of Hollywood property owners and community members.
With DJ Luis providing the musical backdrop, friends mingled and players prepped their poker faces.
Jeff Loeb, our generous host and Broadway in Hollywood President, kicked off the evening with a grand welcome and announced the poker event as the first special event ever thrown onstage at the Pantages.
Hollywood PAL Board Chair Roy Condon, Board Secretary Peyton Nealis, and PAL Officer Geoff Lear also helped usher in the night by sharing the group’s mission, which focuses on developing positive relationships between kids, officers, and community members through mentoring and variety of curated youth programming.
Before the tournament began, Roy issued a $3,000 matching gift challenge. Fellow poker players shouted out their pledges to meet the match in less than sixty seconds!
Over the next few hours, 115 players slowly dwindled down to nine, and eventually Derek Yee was crowned champion!
Congratulations to Derek and the final nine players, but the true event winners were all of our Hollywood PAL kids including Miguel, Yaritssa and the rest of our Martial Arts Team who will now be able to travel and compete in the 2022 USA Judo Junior Olympics in June thanks to our generous donors.
A big thank you to our table sponsors – blk Water International, GSG Protective Services, Hollywood Center, Hollywood Offices – PCD, Hollywood Pantages, MBS, Mill Creek Residential, Paramount Studios, The Star, and Sunset + Wilcox for filling the event with a fun group of people ready to go all-in and support our kids.
Extra special shout-outs to our restaurant partners and in-kind donors: the Pantages Theatre, The Dudes’ Brewing Co., the Everly Hollywood Hotel, Fabiolus Cucina, Food & Bounty, the Montalban, L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, St. Felix Hollywood, Proper Parking, and Wood & Vine for an amazing venue, discounted parking, incredible food, drinks, and prizes.
Check out the photo album on Facebook (here)
