Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Wednesday, May 13 2020 - 06:15
AsiaNet
David Costabile Tops $1 Million Charity PokerStars Invitational Led by Hank Azaria and Andy Bellin
ONCHAN, Isle of Man, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Charities to receive share of more than $1 million after stars from music, 
film, sports and TV unite for Stars CALL for Action - Powered By PokerStars

Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Hank Azaria, Neymar Jr, David Schwimmer, Lisa 
Kudrow, Ricardinho, Liam Payne, Gabriel Macht, Amy Schumer and many more 
celebrities played head-to-head over the weekend in the 'Stars CALL for Action 
- Powered by PokerStars' online poker tournament to raise an enormous $1 
million for charity. 

More than 90 celebrities signed up to the tournament to raise relief funds 
during the global pandemic, with the final table a true representation of the 
event's international nature. Twenty-four players succeeded in taking down a 
portion of the total donation for their charity of choice.

Main Event final table winners and charity amounts:

- 1st: David Costabile - $100,000 
- 2nd: Douglas Costa - $75,000 
- 3rd: Jennifer Shahade (PokerStars Ambassador) - $40,000 
- 4th: Casey Affleck - $30,000 
- 5th: Chris Moneymaker (PokerStars Ambassador) - $20,000 
- 6th: Mike Tindall - $15,000

With 50 percent of the total donation going directly to Care International on 
behalf of those playing, the remaining $500,000 now goes to the winners' 
charities of choice. Billions and Suits star David Costabile earned the lion's 
share after a heated battle with Brazilian footballer Douglas Costa and a 
$100,000 first-place donation will now go to World Central Kitchen on his 
behalf. 

It was almost a double success for the cast of Suits when Gabriel Macht went 
head-to-head with retired English footballer and ex-England international Wayne 
Bridge for a $50,000 donation in the second chance, winner-takes-all celebrity 
side event. In the end Bridge came out on top and will send the $50,000 winner 
donation to The Little Roo Neonatal Fund. 

Other celebrities who were successful in earning donations for their chosen 
charities include Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Michael Ian Black, Don 
Cheadle, Tony Yazbeck, Macauley Culkin, Nelson Figueroa, Tohi and Thomas 
Lennon. Amy Schumer's sister, Kim Carmele, was one of six players to make it 
into the final from the 'Player Invitational', earning $10,000 for her chosen 
charity.

Hank Azaria said, "What an amazing day it was. I was genuinely moved to connect 
with so many people that I like and admire for such a wonderful cause and I 
remain blown away by how much PokerStars stepped up. They put up $10K towards 
COVID relief for every celebrity that participated and then, even though we 
didn't quite reach 100 celebrities, they went ahead and gave a full million 
dollars anyway which was really incredible. And I got to play some poker!"

Laurie Lee, CEO of CARE International UK, the official emergency relief partner 
of PokerStars since 2014, said, "This partnership over the past six years means 
the world to us. With PokerStars' support we can respond quickly when 
emergencies strike, saving lives and delivering much-needed aid to vulnerable 
communities around the world."

Grants to charities will be administered by the Entertainment Industry 
Foundation (EIF), a Charity Navigator Four-Star Charity that meets all 20 BBB 
Charity Standards. Donations can still be made via YouTube and at 
eifoundation.org/starscallforaction 
[https://secure.eifoundation.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6122&mfc_pref=T&6122.donat
ion=form1&s_src=eifoundationorgstarscallforaction&utm_source=eifoundationorgstar
scallforaction ].

Notes to Editors

This event was a play money event, with no real money prizes awarded to any 
players. Donations will be made on the behalf of top performers. 

Hashtag: #StarsRaising

Stars CALL for Action - Powered by PokerStars was streamed on: 

www.Facebook.com/PokerStars 

www.YouTube.com/PokerStars 

www.Twitch.tv/PokerStars 

Play responsibly. Check here [ 
https://www.pokerstars.com/about/responsible-gaming/ ] for more information on 
PokerStars Responsible Gaming Tools.

About Care International

Care International UK is one of the world's leading humanitarian charities and 
has been the official emergency relief partner of PokerStars since 2014. Care 
International works in over 100 countries around the world to save lives, 
defeat poverty and achieve social justice.

About PokerStars

PokerStars operates the world's most popular online poker sites, serving the 
global poker community. Since it launched in 2001, PokerStars has become the 
first choice of players all over the world, with more daily tournaments than 
anywhere else and with the best online security. More than 200 billion hands 
have been dealt on PokerStars, which is more than any other site.

Play Responsibly!  For more information on responsible gaming please visit our 
website at http://www.pokerstars.com/about/responsible-gaming/ 

About the Entertainment Industry Foundation

The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), founded in 1942, is a multifaceted 
organization that occupies a unique place in the world of philanthropy. By 
mobilizing and leveraging the powerful voice and creative talents of the 
entertainment industry, as well as cultivating the support of organizations 
(public and private) and philanthropists committed to social responsibility, 
EIF builds awareness and raises funds, developing and enhancing campaigns on 
the local, national and global level that facilitate positive social change. 
Visit eifoundation.org or follow @eifoundation for more information.

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Photo - 
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Contact: press@pokerstars.com 

Source: PokerStars