PHIL IVEY BUDS BIG
One of the most talented and recognized poker players in the world, Phil Ivey, popped his Foundation-cherry at the Annual World Series of Barbeque last week and raised a total of $260,000 for the Budding Ivey Foundation and others. The Golden Nugget hosted the party and poker tournament while guests enjoyed the Tank, Golden Nugget’s famous pool with an actual shark tank in the middle of it, an air guitar competition, a hula-hoop contest, even a game or two of Chutes & Ladders.

“This is unbelievable. I never expected so many people to come in support,” said Ivey. “I’ve never done anything like this before.” Ivey is a big-donator in the charity world, and usually does so ‘under the radar’…Props to Phil Ivey for giving some love ‘above the radar’ in efforts to promote the Budding Ivey Foundation which was founded by Ivey and his mother. “The main purpose is to provide scholarships for underprivileged kids and give them an educational opportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise receive,” said Ivey. “My grandfather passed away about a year ago, and he was the most influential man in my life. My mother decided to keep his memory alive.” Other charities that benefited from the first annual Budding Ivey Foundation World Series of BBQ included the Las Vegas Boys & Girls Club, the Springs Preserve, and Empowered 2 Excel.

ANTE UP FOR AFRICA

One day after Phil Ivey was busy giving love to the kids, a host of celebrities gave their support to actor Don Cheadle and his Second Annual Ante Up for Africa Tournement…the event raised more than $400,00 for Not on Our Watch, a charity founded by Matt Damon, Cheadle, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney. Cheadle said the the poker tournament has already made a positive impact in Darfur. In reference to a UN Security Council vote authorizing a peacekeeping force in the area, Cheadle said: “It wouldn’t have taken place [without us].” Other celebrities who kicked in the $5k for a spot at the felt included: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Tilley, Shannon Elizabeth, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Casey Affleck, and poker pro Phil Helmuth. Affleck, who made it all the way to the final table, remains optimistic about the Sudan, “I do think that [Sudan's leaders] are afraid of the next administration being tougher, and are probably a little bit more willing to be more cooperative,” Affleck said. “But I’m optimistic about what’s going to happen.”

IKER CASILLAS & ORPHANS

Spanish national soccer team treasure, Iker Casillas is busy making the rounds…hot stuff visited the Inca citadell of Macchu Picchu on July 04 with a group of orphaned kids who are members of an NGO which Casillas supports…he then played a soccer match with the kids before taking off to another two towns in Cusco, Peru….now, I gotta administer a major slap-in-the-face to Yahoo- their caption from one of the photos: “Spanish national soccer team captain…blah, blah…in Cusco, Peru…blah, blah…Casillas supports an educational program of an international NGO in this place.” IN THIS PLACE. That’s a quote…yes, that place, for the record, is Cusco (also spelled Cuzco), a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubama Valley (Sacred Valley) of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cusco Province. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cusco, its altitude is around 3,300 m (10,800 ft). Cusco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire…(For the Yahoo’s out there-it’s called Wikipedia, ya might wanna use it sometime.)

As always, thanks for rading. Delinda Lombardo