Copyright © 2005 NLThomas
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Copyright © 2005 CNO
CATOOSA, OKLAHOMA - Cherokee Casino Resort hopes to raise more than $30,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims by hosting a No-limit Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, September 17."Strong community support is a key element of what Cherokee Casino Resort is all about," said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises (CNE), the tribal corporation which runs Cherokee Casinos. "This is a great opportunity for us to show our support for the many people hurt by Hurricane Katrina."
"This is just one of the many ways the Cherokee Nation is reaching out to help people affected by this natural disaster," said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
The Cherokee Nation has had law enforcement, medical and EMS staff helping evacuees at Camp Gruber near Braggs, Okla., since they first arrived late Saturday night, as well as those evacuees located in Cookson. The Cherokee Nation has also sent 22 Cherokee Firedancer firefighters to work in distribution centers in Louisiana and assist with general relief efforts. Cherokee Nation sent two semi-trailers of food and water to the Mississippi Band of Choctaws to assist in their surrounding communities. The tribe also set up collection containers throughout town during the Cherokee Nation’s annual national holiday on Labor Day weekend.
Collection sites for donations are set up at Cherokee Casinos in Catoosa, Tahlequah, Siloam Springs, Roland and Fort Gibson and at the tribe’s main complex in Tahlequah and Cherokee Nation Industries in Stilwell. Donations will continue to be collected through September 30.
Stewart said the goal of the poker tournament is to fill 300 available seats, which would raise $30,000 for hurricane victims. The entire prize pool, including all re-buys, will be donated to the Cherokee Nation disaster relief program for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The multi-table tournament will begin a noon on September 17, with registration beginning at 11 a.m. The winner will receive a $10,000 seat in the Oklahoma Johnny Hale Championship Poker Tournament at Cherokee Casino Resort on April 2006. The second place finisher will receive a $5,000 seat in the Scotty Nguyen Championship Tournament at Cherokee Casino Resort on November 5 and 6.
The buy-in for the tournament is $100. Entry fee is $15 and staff appreciation fee is $5. The buy-in entitles each participant to $300 in chips, and players may re-buy any time they have $300 or less in chips. Players can do a single, double or triple re-buy, but must do so before leaving the table for the break. All re-buys are $100 for an additional $300 in chips.
Blinds and antes continue to double every 20 minutes until the tournament ends. Seats won are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Cherokee Nation Enterprises is the retail, gaming, entertainment and hospitality business of the Cherokee Nation. CNE operates casinos in Catoosa, Roland, West Siloam Springs, Fort Gibson and Tahlequah as well as two Cherokee Outpost convenience stores; seven Cherokee retail tobacco shops, two gift shops and golf courses in Catoosa and Tahlequah. The company also owns Will Rogers Downs, a 236-acre horse racetrack just east of Claremore. The company employs 2,875 people throughout northeastern Oklahoma.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |