The sixth annual Ante4Autism poker tournament, to be held 7 p.m. Sunday [doors open at 6 p.m.], Jan. 26 at the Golden Nugget hotel and casino in Las Vegas, has announced that a number of celebrities and professional poker players are scheduled to play:
- TV actor and professional poker player Erik Aude, known for his role in “NCIS LA” and TV series “Parenthood”
- Film actor Dante Basco, best known as Rufio in the film “Hook”
- TV actor Josh Emerson best know for appearances on “NCIS”
- Film actor Nicholas Gonzales, roles in “Behind Enemy Lines Part II” and “Anacondas”
- TV actor Omar Gooding known for his role in “Hanging with Mr. Cooper,” and brother of Cuba Gooding, Jr.
- Film actor Miko Hughes who portrayed a nine-year-old boy with autism in “Mercury Rising” with Bruce Willis
- Professional poker players Karina Jett [event cohost] and Chip Jett
- TV actor Brian Krause who starred for eight years in “Charmed”
- TV actor Jeremy London, known for regular roles in television’s “Party of Five,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “7th Heaven”
- TV actor Bill Parks, known for his roles in “The Middle,” “Justified,” “2 Broke Girls”
- Actor Nick Tate, known for roles in “The Great Gatsby” and TV series “Pretty Little Liars” and “Murder She Wrote”
- Las Vegas magician and “America’s Got Talent” contestant Michael Turco
Former major league baseball player Jose Canseco had been scheduled to play, but will not appear due to a last-minute scheduling conflict. Canseco has donated sports memorabilia to the silent auction and wishes good luck to all players!
The event’s centerpiece is a Texas Hold ‘em poker tournament accompanied by a silent auction and raffle. Buy-in for players is $125; rebuys are $40. Players receive an Autism Speaks pin, light snacks and beverages. Final table players receive merchandise prizes and the winner receives a grand champion plaque.
The event benefits Autism Speaks, a New York–based advocacy group that raises awareness about autism spectrum disorders and funds research into causes, prevention and treatment.
Karl & Cathi Glassman and Roger & Jeanne Magowitz are repeat Gold sponsors of the event, which seeks to increase awareness about autism and raise money to fund research into the cause and cure for the disability. The tournament, which draws participants and sponsors from across the bedding and home furnishings industry, is held in conjunction with the winter Las Vegas Market.
The Glassmans and Magowitzes join a growing list of industry members supporting the event at a number of sponsorship levels:
- Diamond ($5,000) – Symbol Mattress Company, APJL Consulting
- Platinum ($2,500)– High Risk Pregnancy Center in Las Vegas, Leggett & Platt, Mattress Matters
- Gold ($1,000) – Karl & Cathi Glassman, Roger & Jeanne Magowitz, Restonic Mattress
- Silver ($500) – Corsicana, Quality Mattress Outlet, Shari & Kevin Wagner, Myra Stone & Jake Monnier, a Special Fund for Charities, Mantua Mfg. Co.
- Bronze ($250) – Judi & Kerry Lebensburger, Janet Pickett, Wright Global Graphic Solutions
The Cleveland Indians, professional poker players Chip & Karina Jett, Restonic of New Albany, Simmons Bedding Co., Solutions in Sleep and Tempur-Pedic have donated merchandise to the event.
All attendees and exhibitors of the Las Vegas Market, as well as area residents, are invited to attend Ante4Autism. Registration and sponsorship information is available at www.ante4autism.com. Openings for players are still available, so sign up now, organizers say, or simply walk up on the night of the event. Doors open at 6 p.m., announcements and tournament starts at 7 p.m.
Cohosts of the 6th annual event are professional poker player Karina Jett, as well as the following home furnishings and mattress industry members: Gary Blackney, Simmons; Allen Parvizian, APJL Consulting; Myra Stone, independent Representative; Randy Coconis, Coconis Furniture; Richie Gallaher, Tempur-Pedic; Stuart Carlitz, Eclipse International; Phil Miner, Symbol Mattress; Mike McQuiston, Symbol Mattress; Jerry Williams, Retail Service Systems; Anthony Mehran, Huffman Koos; Joseph Amato, Mattress Matters; Mark Quinn, Leggett and Platt; and Doug Krinsky, Restonic.
“The silent auction items are the best we’ve ever had!” said event organizer Doug Krinsky.
Organizers welcome additional donations for the raffle, silent auction and gifts to the final table players. To donate, please contact cohost and event organizer Doug Krinsky via email at [email protected].
This story was updated Jan. 24, 2014.
