The World Series of Poker (WSOP) that ONE DROP has been selected as an official charity for the WSOP, the most prestigious gaming event in the world, which began yesterday, May 27 at Rio All-Suite Hotel &Casino in Las Vegas .
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As an official charity, the WSOP will work with ONE DROP to help educate, raise awareness and direct funds towards the organization which helps provide access to clean water around the world.
“ONE DROP is doing important and impactful work and we intend to do what we can to help their efforts,” said Mitch Garber, CEO of Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. (owners of the WSOP.) “The water crisis is a worldwide issue and with the WSOP’s global reach, we believe this is a great fit for our company.”
One important step is the creation of the BIG ONE for ONE DROP, an official WSOP bracelet event where 11.11 percent of the $1 million entry fee will be designated to charity. This historic event (event #55 on the schedule) will take place July 1-3, and 30 players have already confirmed their participation for the inaugural event. As such, nearly $3.3 million is already earmarked for ONE DROP.
In addition, all players who cash in any WSOP event this year will be asked to go “All In for ONE DROP” by donating one percent of their winnings to the charity. All monies will be 100 percent tax-deductible. The All In for ONE DROP campaign is designed to raise awareness on water-related issues and encourage the poker community to take action and create a powerful ripple effect.
“I am very grateful to both the World Series of Poker and Caesars Entertainment for choosing ONE DROP and enabling a ripple effect within the poker community,” said Guy Laliberté, ONE DROP’s chair and Cirque du Soleil® founder. “They support the work of ONE DROP and are part of the All in For ONE DROP initiatives. With everyone’s help, the dream of water for all is achievable.”
During the BIG ONE for ONE DROP, select Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas resorts will be participating in a fundraising and in-room communications campaign to generate awareness for the cause. The campaign’s slogan, “A Drop Saved is a Drop Shared,” is centered on the environmental and social impacts of water conservation. As an industry leader in sustainability, the company focuses on critical issues of water, energy, gas and waste through its aggressive CodeGreen sustainability strategy that engages its employee in programs dedicated to reducing the resorts’ impact on the environment.
As part of the WSOP-ONE DROP alliance, several other visible initiatives will be on display during this year’s WSOP, including:
• BIG ONE for ONE DROP poker tournament (July 1-3) with $111,111 per buy-in going to ONE DROP, and waiving of fees to staff and host event with final table to be carried live on ESPN on July 3.
• Awarding of two seats into the BIG ONE for ONE DROP ($2 million commitment from Caesars Entertainment/CIE).
• Hosting a $25,300 Mega Satellite poker tournament on June 30 at Rio to fulfill CIE commitment, with CIE guaranteeing seat.
• One percent for ONE DROP – For all players who cash, there is an opportunity to make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation.
• Providing ONE DROP with a booth at Rio to raise awareness on water-related issues.
• Water fact messaging added to water bottle service during tournament to raise awareness and encourage players to purchase a reusable bottle.
• Installation of water stations throughout tournament footprint to encourage players to refill their reusable water bottle.
• Visible signage and branding will be placed throughout tournament.
The 43rd annual World Series of Poker will take place from May 27 to July 16 at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas . The Main Event will begin on July 7, with the final table being determined on July 16. The nine players who advance to the final table will return to Rio in October to determine the champion and winner of poker’s ultimate prize.
ABOUT ONE DROP
ONE DROP—an initiative of Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil®—is an international non-governmental organization established in Canada , in 2007. ONE DROP fights poverty by supporting access to water and raising individual and community awareness of the need to mobilize so that safe water is accessible to all, in sufficient quantity, today and tomorrow. With its uniquely artistic approach, ONE DROP educates and implements site-specific safe water solutions while allocating microfinance loans to help ensure sustainable development. Worldwide, ONE DROP’s ongoing creative projects also raise awareness about water-related issues and encourage smarter water practices. In the U.S. , ONE DROP is a public charity that undertakes innovative activities in which water plays a central role as a creative force to generate positive, sustainable change worldwide. To learn more, visit www.ONEDROP.org
ABOUT THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2011, the event attracted 75,672 entrants from 105 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and awarded over $192 million in prize money. To learn more about the World Series of Poker, visit WSOP.com.
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