PLAY POKER WITH CHAMP AND BOYS & GIRLS CLUB BENEFITS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 23, 2009

PLAY POKER WITH CHAMP AND BOYS & GIRLS CLUB BENEFITS

SANTA FE, NM - It was the rags to riches story every poker player dreams of.  Jerry Yang, Laotian refugee, devoted father of six, psychologist and social worker, came to the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) as the wild card, with $225 in his pocket.    He left triumphant, beating out his opponents and taking home $8.2 million, of which he would donate 10% to charities.  And this May 15 -17, he plans to come to the table in the poker room at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, intent on trying his hand against New Mexican poker players and raising some money for the Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club while he's at it.

Accompanying Yang will be poker players Richard Drennan and Frank and Cherie Wiese.  Frank Wiese is the author of "Eat Professional Poker Players Alive!"-the ultimate guide to today's Texas Hold 'em, Razz, Stud, and Omaha for all skill levels.  Wiese and Yang will be signing books and autographs throughout the weekend, when not busy playing poker.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for local poker players to play against the champ, have a great time, and raise some dough for the Boys & Girls Club here in Pojoaque," says Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino Poker Room Manager Harry Walker.  "Friday will feature the charity event, while Saturday and Sunday continue the $25,000 guarantee tournament," adds Walker.

Yang will play in free roll during the tournament, with a $1000 bounty for the player who knocks him out. If Yang makes it to the final table, the $1000 bounty will be lifted and given to him to donate to the charity of his choice. In addition to the tournament and book signings, there will be a raffle benefiting the Boys & Girls Club and free chow for attendees.  Raffle ticket prizes include dinner for two at Red Sage Restaurant, a half day rafting trip with Santa Fe Rafting and a Blu-Ray disc player. Raffle tickets will be sold in the Poker Room May 1 through May 15. Tournament players will receive one raffle ticket for every two hours of play in the Poker Room. 

"We couldn't survive without charitable contributions," says Don Christy, Executive Director, Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys and Girls Club. "Every penny that is raised will be directed towards our kids. We're thrilled that Buffalo Thunder is offering to match the money raised at the poker tournament; their philanthropic work in the Pojoaque Valley is sincerely appreciated by our kids, staff and parents.  There are 225 kids enrolled in our afterschool program who will benefit from this poker event." The Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club mission statement is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.

WHAT:          Poker Tournament/Charity Event with Champion Jerry Yang
WHERE
:        Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino Poker Room, 30 Buffalo Thunder Trail, Santa Fe, NM,     Highway 84/285 in Pojoaque, only minutes from historic Santa Fe.
WHEN:           Friday, May 15 - Sunday May 17, 2009

Friday, May 15:  Charitable Event (for the Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club)
4-6 p.m.           Jerry Yang & Frank Wiese sign books and autographs.
6:45 - 9 p.m.   Tournament (up to 110 players).  All players receive a gift from Buffalo Thunder.

Saturday, May 16: Free Roll Tournament ($25K guarantee total prize pool)
 
The free roll tournament is designed for players who have more than 250 hours playing time in the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino Poker Room.  They have had five months to earn these hours. The Poker Room expects up to 40 players. Depending on the number of players, the winner can take home up to $8,000.
11 a.m.            Yang and Wiese sign books
12 p.m.            Gift Presentation to the Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club (PBGC).  Donation boxes will be out all weekend for the PBGC
12:30 p.m.       First 25K rounds players seated..
1:00 p.m.         Start Free Roll: Play till 10 or fewer players. Approximately 4 to 5 hours.

Sunday, May 17: Free Roll Tournament (Final Day of the $25K Guarantee)    
1:00 p.m.         Final players seated and will play until there is a winner.

HOW/INFO/COST:
Buy-in for Friday's charitable event is $60. Call 505-819-2243 or walk-in BTRC Poker Room to register. Raffle tickets can also be purchased in the Poker Room.

Upcoming 2009 Events at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino
Tewa Grand Ballroom     following shows begin at 8 p.m.:
Kenny Rogers                May 2
Ron White                     July 2, two shows @ 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Foreigner with Think       September 19
Edwards Twins               October 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11
Engelbert Humperdinck  October 22

TICKETS:      http://www.buffalothunderresort.com/ or call 800-905-3315. Tickets also available at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino Box Office, located at the Casino Cage.

Turquoise Trail Bar & Grill    following shows begin at 9 p.m.:
Missing Stateside                               Fri. and Sat., April 24 and 25
Final Verdict, rock-country NM music      Fri. and Sat., May 1 and 2 
Encanto, rock-country NM music            Fri. and Sat., May 8 and 9
Camino Oscuro, rock-country NM dance Fri. and Sat., May 15 and 16
No Limitz, popular variety NM dance      Fri. and Sat., May 22 and 23
Sassfire, rock-country                          Fri. and Sat., May 29 and 30

Blue Tower Lounge        following shows begin at 8 p.m.:
Lumbre Revue, variety dance oldies         Fri. and Sat., May 1 and 2
Fat Tuesday, popular dance New Orleans Gumbo  Fri. and Sat., May 8 and 9
Midnight Sun, variety show dance band     Fri. and Sat., May 15,16, 22, 23  
Derryl Perry, new country recording artist   Fri., May 29
DJ Breakaway                                       Sat., May 30 
The Blue Tower Lounge also hosts DJ Breakaway every Thursday night, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., playing the best Hip Hop, Reggae and Club music around. Blue Tower Lounge is a 100-seat entertainment venue located on the casino level. The Blue Tower Lounge is a sleek and sensual venue with upscale services including bottle service and VIP packages.  Every square inch of Blue Tower Lounge is designed to electrify the night .

www.buffalothunderresort.com

 

Contact:
Jennifer Marshall
505-231-1776
jennifer@jmarshallplan.com
www.jmarshallplan.com