Jack Black Joins Other Celebrities in Going All-In to Win for Hope

Renal Support Network and Love Across the Ocean Present No Limit Texas Hold'em Celebrity Poker Tournament Benefiting Kidney Disease Patients and Refugee Families

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Actor/comedian, Jack Black and a host of celebrities will 'ante-up' at the "All-In to Win for Hope" No Limit Texas Hold'em Celebrity Poker Tournament on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Commerce Casino in Commerce, California benefiting Renal Support Network and Love Across the Ocean charities. The celebrity poker tournament will award cash prizes.

"We are excited to have Jack Black participate in our second annual celebrity poker tournament," said Dale Wade Davis, event chairman and actor ("Shameless"). "On behalf of our tournament partner, Love Across The Ocean, we look forward to an afternoon full of entertainment and are honored to have Jack help us raise awareness about chronic kidney disease and the importance of organ donation, as well as the plight of refugee families." Davis is a kidney transplant recipient from good friend, Phillip Palmer (ABC7 Anchor).

Welcoming many stars from the Los Angeles area, the celebrity poker tournament is a fun-filled day that offers great prizes, a silent auction, raffles, a dinner buffet and a chance to mingle and compete against stars from various genres of the entertainment industry.

"It's going to be a great event. You get to play with celebrities, win cash and great prizes, all while helping out two great charities. It doesn't get much better than that," added Leyna Nguyen, president, Love Across The Ocean and KCAL9 Anchor.

Other celebrities attending but are not limited to include Bart Johnson ("High School Musical"), Dennis Haskins ("Saved by the Bell"), Lauren Mayhew ("Guiding Light"), Rachel Kimsey ("Days of Our Lives"), Matthew Borlenghi ("General Hospital"), Phoebe Price ("Stanley DeBrock"), Joshua Fredric Smith ("The Road to Freedom") and Michael Muhney ("The Young and the Restless"). Previous celebrity players have included Marc Brown (ABC7 Anchor), Phillip Palmer (ABC7 Anchor), Michael Cudlitz ("Band of Brothers"/"Southland"), Nadia Dawn ("Spring Break '83"), Scott Elrod ("Men in Trees"), Rob Fukuzaki (ABC7 Sports Anchor), Stephen Furst ("Animal House"), Jackie Johnson (KCBS/KCAL9 Weathercaster), Paula LaBaredas ("Kelsey Grammer Bill Zucker Comedy Hour"), Camryn Manheim ("The Practice"), Christina McLarty (KCBS/KCAL9 Reporter), Alan Mendelson (Emmy-award winning business and consumer reporter) and Joe Reitman ("Legend of Neil"), among others.  

WHAT: Texas Hold'em Celebrity Poker Tournament

WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 2011
1:30 p.m.: Registration
3:00 p.m.: Tournament Begins

WHERE: Commerce Casino
6131 Telegraph Rd.
Commerce, CA 90040

*Must be 21 years+

HOW: Order tickets at RSNhope.org/poker
Players:
$200 pre-sale; $250 at the door

Non-Players:
$50 pre-sale; $75 at the door

Sponsorship table:
$2,500

Participants who purchase tickets in advance receive a $50 discount. Rebuys will be available. All tickets include a buffet. Ticket proceeds benefit Renal Support Network and Love Across The Ocean and are tax deductible.

Jack Black is one of Hollywood's most memorable actor/comedians. He is best known for his work in "School of Rock," "Kung Fu Panda" and "High Fidelity" as well as being a favorite nominee at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards and MTV Movie Awards. For the past few years, Black has been special guest at RSN's Renal Teen Prom, a high school-inspired prom/dance designed for teenagers who missed their own prom due to kidney disease or prolonged absences due to health issues.

Renal Support Network (RSN) is a non-profit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that provides non-medical services to those affected by chronic kidney disease. Renal Support Network strives to motivate and assist patients in developing their personal coping skills, special talents and employability by educating and empowering them (and their family members) to take control of the course and management of their disease. Renal Support Network values people with kidney disease and helps them become self-sufficient through education, advocacy and hope for a better tomorrow through numerous educational and support programs including the RSN HOPEline, KidneyTalk and KidneySpeak. For more information, please visit RSNhope.org. Twitter: @RSNhope

Love Across the Ocean is a non-profit organization led by Leyna Nguyen (KCAL Channel 9 Anchor) helping refugee families of all nationalities start a new life. Through construction and renovation of schools, scholarships, distribution of daily needs such as food, clothing and medicines, as well as assisting families to become self-sufficient, Love Across the Ocean was founded on the purpose to bring change to the lives of children who struggle daily. Leyna was born in Dong Ha, Vietnam and immigrated to America with her family in 1975.  She grew up in Minnesota, and was forever changed by a trip back to Vietnam. For more information, please visit loveacrosstheocean.org.

SOURCE Renal Support Network