Celebrities and Studio Execs Raise Money For Local Children In Need At Variety’s Annual Poker Tournament Hosted on the Paramount Studios Lot

LOS ANGELES July 25, 2016 – Variety, The Children’s Charity of Southern California (www.varietysocal.org ), which provides health, education and mobility support to kids and organizations throughout Southern California, will host its 6th Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament and Casino Night on Wednesday, July 27th. The event will be hosted at Paramount Studios and more than 300 guests, celebrity attendees and studio executives are expected to attend. To date, Variety, The Children’s Charity of Southern California, has raised over $600,000 through its annual Poker and Casino Night Fundraisers. These funds are donated to individuals and organizations to provide support, scholarships, camps and other programs for underprivileged children and children with disabilities.

Renowned World Series of Poker Main Event Champion and “Poker Philanthropist” JAMIE GOLD will be returning to host and emcee this event, and current expected celebrity guests include: Michael Rooker, Lou Diamond Phillips, Montel Williams, Dulé Hill, Sasha Mitchell, Bai Ling, Pandora Boxx, Ed Asner, Samm Levine, Dennis Haskins, Gilles Marini, Katrina Law, Keith Andreen, Nick Gonzalez, Bill Chott, and Tony Denison with many more to be added. Pro poker players Tiffany Michelle, Maria Ho and Rick Solomon are also expected to attend along with professional golfer Troy Grant and professional skateboarders Paul Rodriguez and Thomas Calabro. This year, guests can choose between three registration levels ($50 and up) to enjoy an exciting evening of poker, casino games, silent auction, raffle prizes, mingling, dinner and cocktails, on the world-famous Paramount lot, all while supporting a worthwhile cause. For more information or to purchase a registration, please visit: varietysocal.org/poker-night/

Long considered “The Heart of Show Business,” Variety has its roots in the entertainment industry. On Christmas Eve in 1928, a baby girl was found abandoned on the seat of a movie theatre in Pittsburgh. The “Variety Club,” a newly formed social organization founded by 11 caring souls affiliated with the entertainment industry, agreed to financially underwrite the child’s support and education. Since that time, the organization has grown to 43 chapters in 13 countries, raising over $1.8 billion for children in need.

“The Annual Poker and Casino Night is one of my favorite events of the year because it is an incredible opportunity for members of the industry to work together to bring joy and help to children with special needs through mobility, education and healthcare programs,” said Michael A. Alvarez, Jr., President of the Board of Directors, Variety of Southern California. “This year marks Variety of SoCal’s 75th Anniversary and we are as committed as ever to enriching the lives of children in our community.”

Variety – The Children’s Charity of Southern California was founded in 1941 to provide life-saving and life-enriching assistance to local children with special needs. Education Grants provide underprivileged children and at-risk youth the programs necessary to pursue their education and dreams and overcome the barriers of poverty, poor performing schools and high levels of unemployment. Health Care Grants support early intervention programs for kids with learning disabilities; medical care and therapy for children who are victims of abuse and neglect, and Variety sends hundreds of kids battling life-threatening illnesses to camp – to give them a break from the pain and chaos of treatments. The Mobility Program provides children with disabilities confidence, freedom and much-needed therapeutic exercise by providing specially-designed adaptive bikes and therapeutic strollers. The Variety Boys & Girls Club of Boyle Heights is thriving and is serving more kids than ever with leadership development programs, tutoring and mentoring, recreation, sports and aquatics programs, arts and crafts, a computer learning center and library, social recreation and college scholarships.

To learn more, visit www.varietysocal.org.

Ginger Chan
Allied Integrated Marketing
gchan@alliedim.com

Variety – The Children’s Charity of Southern California
4601 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 260
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel.: (323) 655-1547
Fax: (323) 658-8789
elizabeth@varietysocal.org