by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
More poker players are feeling the charitable spirit, including Dennis Phillips, who is auctioning a spot on his World Series of Poker shirt to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Phillips, returning to the Rio All-Suite Resort and Casino as the WSOP Main Event chip leader, is using eBay to accept bids on a patch in his shirt while he plays at the final table.
Philips will be viewed by millions of poker fanatics in a semi-live televised event on ESPN. The auction will begin on October 16th and end on the 26th, with the starting bid at $3,000. All proceeds will benefit MS sufferers.
“It’s a foundation that I’ve supported for a long time, and I hope this is a good way to raise awareness and maybe raise some money for it,” said Phillips.
Phillips is a truck salesman who has been involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for years. His interest in the society stems from his brother who has suffered from the disease for some time. Phillips has donated his time and money to the March of Dimes, the Salvation Army and United Way where he served on the board of directors. He says that even if he wins the tournament, he will maintain his current job.
Phillips will use his poker fame and recent winnings to work with the Albert Pujols Family Foundation. He is certainly not new to charity drives, having pledged money to the Bad Beat on Cancer charity at the beginning of the tournament. The Bad Beat on Cancer organization encourages all of the players in the WSOP to pledge at least one percent of their earning to its research.
“It’s found money,” said Phillips, referring to the cancer research donation. “It’s helping a good cause; how could you not? It’s automatic.”
Phillips also recently visited the Walter Reed Medical Center to spend time with wounded soldiers, although he found it hard to take in. “That was a hard trip, to be truthful. I’m really glad I did it, but I was so impressed out there,” he said.
Phillips is far from the first poker player to donate money to charitable organizations. He joined the likes of current WSOP champion Jerry Yang, who has donated over $1 million to charity, Phil Ivey, Barry Greenstein, Phil Gordon, Rafe Furst, Gavin Vriffin and Andy Bloch among other poker pros. Victor Ramdin, who accompanied Phillips at Walter Reed, pledges a good portion of his winnings to various charities in Guyana.
“I didn’t expect to make a million dollars or whatever in poker this year, so why wouldn’t I help people out?” Phillips commented. “I had two great parents. Basically, they said if you can help people out, you do it. This is something I will be active with for the rest of my life, I hope.”
Phillips views his current fame, however temporary it may be, provides him with ample opportunity to use his name to raise money for such causes. He claims that if wins the main event, he will establish his own charity foundation, which he will model after Pujols, and continue to help others in any way that he can.
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