FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 25, 2010

CONTACT:
Stefanie Paupeck
Poker4Life
Phone: 678-977-1152
Email: Poker4LifePR@gmail.com



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In the News


Beth Shak to Experience the Positive Power of Poker at Poker4Life™
Annual charity poker tournament to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis

What: 5th Annual Poker4Life™ Poker Tournament
When: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Time: Doors open at 6pm; First card dealt at 7pm
Where: Manhattan Auto Company in New York City (787 11th Avenue between 54th and 55th Streets)

NEW YORK, April 22, 2010 - World championship Full Tilt poker player, fashion mogul and entrepreneur, Beth Shak to join more than 400 poker enthusiasts at Poker4Life™ charity poker tournament in New York City. On April 29, 2010, 300 poker players including Former Senator Al D'Amato will take part in the fifth annual event to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis at the Manhattan Auto Company. Since 2005, Poker4Life™ has raised more than $650,000 to find a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury.

Over the years, a seat at Poker4Life’s final table has become one of the most sought after in New York City. Playing for a spot in 2010 are Glenn Morshower star of “24”; actress/model Sabina Gadecki; Ron Dugay of the New York Rangers, Christopher Murney star of “Slap Shots”; NBA All Stars David Lee and John Starks of the New York Knicks; Antonio Garay of the San Diego Chargers; Willie Colon of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Super Bowl Champion Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints; Playboy Playmate’s Lindsay Vuolo, Colleen Marie, Laurie Fetter and Shannon James; World Wrestling Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka; Donald Brashear of the New York Rangers; and professional poker players Bill Gazes and Olivier Busquet.

Poker4Life™ was founded by a love of the game of poker and the desire to help make a difference in the world through the support of non-profit organizations. An innovative concept developed by Ethan Ruby and Jeremy Schwartz to raise funds for important and much needed research through the game of poker. Ruby and Schwartz started Poker4Life™ in 2005 with a 30-person poker tournament in a NYC bar. The concept of Poker4Life™ is to provide a forum for professional, amateur and celebrity poker players to support charitable organizations.

Event sponsors include Manhattan Automobile Company, Aria Resort & Casino Las Vegas, World Poker Tour (WPT), Poker Players Alliance, Charity Sports Auctions, Wizard Studios, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, ZYR Vodka, Tony’s DiNapoli, Ink48, Philip Marie, PokerDivas, Vikas Khanna Hospitality Group, AR LOYALTY, IZZE, MOR DESIGN and Michael F & Company. The Eldridge will host the official Poker4Life™ after party.

Spots are still available. To learn more about the upcoming event, please visit www.poker4life.org.



NOTES FOR MEDIA:

  • Photographers and videographers are allowed to shoot inside event
  • Poker4Life™ Founders - Ethan Ruby and Jeremy Schwartz are available for pre and post event interviews
  • Celebrity and professional poker players also available for interviews



BACKGROUND ON FOUNDERS:

Ethan Ruby, a successful entrepreneur, is passionately committed to raising money for charitable organizations. In 2002 Ethan was hit by a car in NYC and paralyzed from the chest down; he is now wheelchair bound. He works on various projects raising money for both Spinal Cord Injury research and environmental causes. He is a co-founder of Wearable Collections, as well as the Volunteer Director of the NYC Chapter of the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Chief Pedestrian Advocate of CityStreets.Org, and a member of the board of the Community Counseling Center in Bristol, CT. Ethan was recently recognized by the National Spinal Cord Injury Association as the Humanitarian of the Year. Ruby placed second out of 445 players in the 6th annual World Poker Tour (WPT) Invitational held in Los Angeles in March 2008. He is leading by example and using his success as a poker player to spread the positive power of poker. A new father, Ethan wants to help make the world a better place for his son.

Jeremy Schwartz, Ruby’s brother-in-law and respected financial advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, is dedicated to helping others. Jeremy has been involved with many non-profit organizations including The Special Olympics, amfAR, Habitat for Humanity, and the NYC chapter of the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. He also sat on the junior committee board for Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and participates in the Walk for MS and Wall Street Run.