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Nautica Charity Poker Festival moved inside

Nautica Charity Poker Festivals will be located on the ground floor of the Powerhouse in a 12,000 sq. ft. location. The new location offers added benefits to charities hosting the Festivals and people attending them. Operating costs will be reduced for charities hosting the 4-day Festivals, provide them with more net revenue, and give local charities more weeks from which to select and host a Festival. Charities are expected to earn over $1.5 million of net revenue annually in the year-round location.

"We look forward to continuing the tradition of helping charities raise much-needed funds in 2008," said Pat McKinley, Executive Vice-President for Jacobs Investments, Inc., owner and operator of the Nautica Entertainment Complex and coordinator of the Festivals.

The Cuyahoga Board of County Commissioners recently approved a lease that permits the Nautica Charity Poker Festivals to move indoors at The Powerhouse. Cuyahoga County will rent the space occupied by the Nautica Charity Poker Festivals for $1 a year and sublease it to a different charity each week for $1. "We would like to thank the Cuyahoga County Commissioners for their continued support of the festivals and the charities that benefit from them," advised Dave Grunenwald, Vice President of Development/Leasing for Jacobs Investments, Inc. "The festivals have accomplished exactly what we hoped. They generated significant funds for local charities and provided another entertainment alternative for the people of Northeast Ohio," he added.

The Nautica Charity Poker Festivals will begin March 27th and feature Texas Hold 'Em and tournament Blackjack, played at up to 24 tables seating 6 to 10 players each. Each Festival is operated by a qualified charitable organization that receives 100% of the proceeds. Proceeds come from an hourly seat fee paid by each player, donations made by patrons, food and beverage concessions and sponsorships. In addition to gaming activities, all of the Festivals offer other activities, including historical and artistic events, charity demonstrations and information booths relevant to each charity.

In 2007, charities averaged $30,000 of net income for each four-day Festival. "That's significant income coming from a new source instead of traditional fund-raising sources that have had increasing demands placed on them," noted Carolina Martin, Executive Director of Art of Wheels, a charity hosting Festivals since 2005. Over $1.75 million has been raised for charities since the Nautica Charity Poker Festivals began in 2005. Charities may surpass the $3 million mark with the expanded schedule of Festivals beginning March 27th.

"Qualified 501(C) (3) charities interested in hosting a Festival should contact us via our web site," added Pat McKinley. For more information on charity qualifications and the Festivals, visit NauticaCharityPoker.com.

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