Scores of Hollywood Celebrities Including Rock Icon Gene Simmons, Brad Garrett and Stars from Dancing with the Stars, Chicago PD, Total Divas, UFC/MMA, Sex and the City, Major Crimes and Many Others Gather to Bet Big at Tower Cancer Research Foundation's Cancer Free Generation Poker Tournament and Casino Night on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 in Los Angeles

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May 31, 2016, 09:51 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dozens of stars from TV, sports, music and film will ante up and bet big to support talented young cancer researchers and change the future of cancer at Tower Cancer Research Foundation's (Tower) 3^rd Annual Ante Up for a Cancer Free Generation Poker Tournament and Casino Night on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Sofitel Hotel, Riviera 31, 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Samantha Harris, host of Entertainment Tonight, and former host of Dancing with the Stars, who is a breast cancer survivor, will be honored with the inaugural Cancer Free Generation Mission Award. Red carpet arrivals begin at 6:00 PM PDT.

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The evening will honor Samantha Harris, breast cancer survivor and host of Entertainment Tonight, and longtime former co-host of Dancing with the Stars. The event has attracted the support of numerous celebrities who are expected to attend including rock icon Gene Simmons of KISS, Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond), Joe McIntyre (New Kids on the Block), Jesse Spencer (Chicago Fire), Carl Weathers (Rocky), Gilles Marini (Sex and the City, Dancing with the Stars), Mekhi Phifer (ER/Torchwood: Miracle Day/White Collar), Samuel Hunt (Chicago PD), Sophie Tweed-Simmons (Gene Simmons Family Jewels), Tig Nataro (Comedian), Tito Ortiz (MMA/UFC Champion), Jason Collins (retired NBA player), Tony Denison (Major Crimes), WWE/E! Total Divas Maryse Ouellette and Eva Marie, Frank Kramer (The Heidi & Frank Show/ Dish Nation).

Cancer Free Generation (CFG) is the young leadership division of Tower Cancer Research Foundation. CFG seeks to identify, among their peers in the Southern California region, visionary and innovative doctors, medical professionals and researchers and enable them to discover and implement new ideas and techniques to conquer cancer. Additionally, CFG's efforts support young people and their families who have been impacted by cancer, so that they may approach life with renewed strength and optimism. With this dual approach, CFG's goal is to help ensure that the next generation becomes the first cancer free generation. CFG's executive committee consists of young professionals working in a variety of fields including finance, law, real estate, entertainment, and medicine. Many members of CFG's leadership are, themselves, young cancer survivors. Their common vision is the desire to build a more inspired community via connecting fascinating and passionate young people who make a difference in the world.

Top prizes include a seat in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, January 2017 in the Bahamas; 5-Night Stay at the Trump Hotel Waikiki Hawaii; and a 3-Night Stay for Two at the Hilton Los Cabos.

Tickets may be purchased at the Tower website or by calling 310.299.8477.

MEDIA CREDENTIALING: ALL MEDIA MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED AND APPROVED FOR A CREDENTIAL. Media RSVP and Talent Inquiries: [email protected].

ABOUT TOWER CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION: Tower has been the Southern California cancer patient's greatest ally since 1996. Tower provides grants for innovative research, caring patient support and community education to promote more effective treatments for cancer. As a leading donor-directed, specialized cancer research foundation, Tower is focused on funding Southern California initiatives with a global impact. Tower has raised over $25 million in the last decade alone -- resources that have funded specific groundbreaking research and patient support programs that are professionally vetted by committees comprised of local scientific and community leaders. In addition, Tower awards several $100,000 grants annually to young pioneering physician scientists engaged in groundbreaking bench-to-bedside research. In the last two decades, Tower has participated in over two hundred clinical trials with thousands of patients and awarded over 2 million dollars to 32 physician scientists pursuing novel hypotheses. While there are many brilliant scientists performing cancer research, Tower recognizes the importance of nurturing the regional pool of rich research talent because important breakthroughs have come from unexpected directions and provided new perspectives. The physician scientists who have received Tower's Career Development Grants often demonstrate such promising results that they later obtain large grants from other foundations and cancer research centers. Tower's initial $2 million investment has led to $35 million in additional clinical research funding. http://towercancer.org/