Last Thursday, more than 15 professional poker players, including 2006 World Series of Poker champion Jamie Gold and “Duchess of Poker” Annie Duke, came to New York for the Montel Williams MS Foundation Gala & Pro-Celebrity Poker Challenge at Cipriani 42nd Street. According to Hemming & Gilman Production’s senior director of marketing, Bill Darnell, who began planning the event in September, putting on a poker tournament was no easy task, thanks to New York laws that prevent poker events from using real money. Overseen by Las Vegas-based poker tournament officials who donated their time, each guest received an equal number of chips and played until there was only one winner standing (meaning participants couldn't cash out early). The top five players received donated prizes.
“Montel wanted to have a poker tournament as the core of the event, and then we decided to create a speakeasy theme around it to make it more interesting and New York-y,” Darnell said. “The challenge, then, is to have a poker tournament in the context of a gala, and I think we resolved that by having lots of prizes, dancing, and food.”Model and actress Emme and actress Robin Givens served as evening’s M.C.s, entertaining guests during dinner by introducing a video about Williams's MS Foundation and sharing ways that guests could donate, including chipping in $250 for a lesson from the poker pros or bidding in an online auction hosted by Charity Folks (which runs until April 2). Following the presentation, which honored Billy Tauzin, president and C.E.O. of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the poker playing began.
After registering, the professional and celebrity players were assigned to one of the 12 poker tables adjacent to the main dining area. Guests who were not playing or had already lost could opt watch the more successful players or make their way into the lounge, where dance band the Stingers and R&B singer Emily King performed.
In addition to the challenges of hosting a poker tournament, this inaugural event experienced typical first-time struggles, including getting corporations involved. Continental Airlines served as the presenting sponsor.
“The other important element to planning this event is to try to get the name of the foundation out there, and I think we've done that very well because of the poker element,” Darnell said. “Everyone's heard of the MS Society, but very few people have heard of the Montel Williams MS Foundation. At least now everyone in the poker world knows about Montel's foundation.”
Indeed, representatives from poker magazines Bluff and All In attended, mainly because of the caliber of players attending. And the pros, flown in first-class by Continental, seemed more than happy to play. The event involved a total of 85 poker players and raised approximately $365,000.
“Montel wanted to have a poker tournament as the core of the event, and then we decided to create a speakeasy theme around it to make it more interesting and New York-y,” Darnell said. “The challenge, then, is to have a poker tournament in the context of a gala, and I think we resolved that by having lots of prizes, dancing, and food.”Model and actress Emme and actress Robin Givens served as evening’s M.C.s, entertaining guests during dinner by introducing a video about Williams's MS Foundation and sharing ways that guests could donate, including chipping in $250 for a lesson from the poker pros or bidding in an online auction hosted by Charity Folks (which runs until April 2). Following the presentation, which honored Billy Tauzin, president and C.E.O. of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the poker playing began.
After registering, the professional and celebrity players were assigned to one of the 12 poker tables adjacent to the main dining area. Guests who were not playing or had already lost could opt watch the more successful players or make their way into the lounge, where dance band the Stingers and R&B singer Emily King performed.
In addition to the challenges of hosting a poker tournament, this inaugural event experienced typical first-time struggles, including getting corporations involved. Continental Airlines served as the presenting sponsor.
“The other important element to planning this event is to try to get the name of the foundation out there, and I think we've done that very well because of the poker element,” Darnell said. “Everyone's heard of the MS Society, but very few people have heard of the Montel Williams MS Foundation. At least now everyone in the poker world knows about Montel's foundation.”
Indeed, representatives from poker magazines Bluff and All In attended, mainly because of the caliber of players attending. And the pros, flown in first-class by Continental, seemed more than happy to play. The event involved a total of 85 poker players and raised approximately $365,000.
The fund-raising poker tournament
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash
Professional poker players such as Freddy Deeb and Mary Jones signed a poker table during the event.
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash
Before the playing began, the evening started with a seated dinner and presentation hosted by Robin Givens and Emme.
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash
Washed in red lighting, the floor of the venue was packed with dining and poker tables.
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash
Rather than cash (which would have made the event illegal), the top five players won prizes.
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash
The gala also involved an auction and staff dressed in flapper costumes.
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash
