Marklund Raises the Stakes for Charity Poker

Charity poker events, once considered opportunities for casual players to participate and at the same time help raise funds for worthy causes, are becoming attractive to serious students of the game and even professionals.

Saturday's (Sept. 25) 3rd annual Marklund Casino Night, for which Horseshoe Casino Hammond is the presenting sponsor, will feature a Texas Hold'em Tournament in which the prize package is second to none.

More than $30,000 in total prizes will be awarded for the tournament, which will be held at the McGrath Lexus automobile dealership located at 1250 West Division Street in Chicago starting with registration at 6:30 p.m. and the call "shuffle up and deal" at 7:30 p.m.

First prize is a two or three-year lease (depending upon what model car is selected) on a new Lexus. Second and third place prizes will be buy-ins of $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, to the World Series of Poker circuit tournament to be held at Horseshoe next month. Prizes will also be awarded to the remaining seven players who make the final table.

The buy-in of $195 includes entry for two people; one guest for the poker tournament and a guest for the casino night activities, including complimentary valet parking, open sponsored bar for four hours plus appetizers.

Those who wish only to be a part of the casino night can pay a $75 entry fee, which includes appetizers, open bar, and chips to play blackjack, craps, and roulette for prizes.

"We are hoping the event will be a royal flush for Marklund." said Vicki Krystof, director of development for the not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1954. "Every hand played by our guests will raise funds and directly impact the lives of our clients."

Marklund's main campus in Geneva, Illinois, consists of six 16-bed residential homes for adults with severe and profound developmental disabilities as well as an educational and training center that provides for the intensive medical, social, emotional and physical needs of the residents.

The Marklund Philip Center for Children in Bloomingdale, Illinois, includes a skilled pediatric nursing facility for infants, children, and medically fragile adults and a day school education program for children ages three to 21. There is also early intervention for infants and toddlers to age three and Marklund's respite program.

Visit www.marklund.org for more information about Marklund and its vision, "Rising Above Limitations".

The evening will include a break in the poker action for announcements at 8:30 p.m. The casino night activities will cease at 11:15 p.m. followed by a raffle drawing and the exciting final table for the poker tournament at 11:30 p.m.

For complete tournament rules, prize details, or to register, call 312-450-8918 or visit www.marklundcasinonight.com.