Dennis Phillips, the chip leader of the World Series of Poker main event that’s set to conclude in November, has pledged to donate one percent of his winnings as part of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s “Bad Beat on Cancer” fundraiser. PokerStars has pledged to match whatever that amount turns out to be.
“I am thrilled to contribute a portion of my WSOP earnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation,” said Phillips. “Charity involvement has always been an important part of my life, and hopefully more poker players and final table participants with follow suit in upcoming poker circuits like the European Poker Tour and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.”
If Phillips wins, the total donation (with PokerStars’ contribution) would amount to $182,000.
PokerStars recently donated $51,000 to the Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation and gave Donald Hobbs, a young man afflicted with the disease, an entry into the WSOP main event alongside his friend and poker idol, Team PokerStars Pro and former WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker.
“Most guys get to the final table and just see a big pile of money and a new life,” Moneymaker said. “Dennis is just happy to be playing poker and sees an opportunity to help others. His efforts are inspiring to the poker community, and I’m excited to see how it all turns out in November.”
The Bad Beat on Cancer fundraiser started in 2003 when Phil Gordon and Rafe Furst encouraged players to pledge one percent of their winnings for cancer prevention and research. So far, more than $2 million has been raised by players of all skill-levels and from tournaments of all buy-in levels. Donations are tax-deductible.
Players can make the Bad Beat pledge by visiting www.preventcancer.org.
