BALLER DREAM FOUNDATION AND CIRCA RESORT & CASINO TO HOST CELEBRITY POKER TOURNAMENT, APRIL 28-30
Three-Day Weekend Experience Hosted by Hall of Fame Pitcher Greg Maddux to Benefit Young Warriors Battling Cancer
The Baller Dream Foundation will join downtown Las Vegas’ Circa Resort & Casino for a celebrity poker tournament and three-day weekend April 28 – 30 benefiting cancer warriors ages 0-29. Hosted by Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, the Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament will raise funds to create unique experiences and provide financial support for pediatric and young adult “Ballers.” The celebrity-filled weekend will include appearances from Las Vegas hockey player Deryk Engelland, baseball legend Roger Clemens, football star Evan Mathis and more.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Baller Dream Foundation on such an incredible event,” said Maddux. “These Ballers face battles daily most of us can’t comprehend, and we look forward to partnering with Circa to continue the mission of supporting and caring for these kids.”
The weekend-long event will consist of a private dinner at Circa’s secluded steakhouse Barry’s Downtown Prime; a welcome party at the outdoor pool amphitheater, Stadium Swim; and a celebrity poker tournament held at the resort’s 60th floor rooftop lounge, Legacy Club.
CEO of Circa Resort & Casino Derek Stevens said, “We are honored to have been chosen as the location of this event. It is an excellent organization we are proud to partner with, and it’s going to be wonderful to see these legendary athletes come together for such a meaningful cause.”
The weekend will include the following activities:
- Private Dining with Chef Barry at Barry’s Downtown Prime: The tournament weekend will kick off with an invite-only event featuring a private dining experience with Executive Chef Barry Dakake on Friday, April 28. During the evening, guests will be able to mingle with celebrities and top-tier sponsors while dining on signature steaks, seafood and pasta dishes.
- Commencement Celebration at Stadium Swim: Circa’s year-round, multi-tiered pool amphitheater, Stadium Swim, will host the poker tournament’s commencement celebration from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 29. The destination pool features six, temperature-controlled pools, a 143-foot diagonal viewing screen and dozens of cabana options. Single tickets are available for purchase for $500.
- Main Event Poker Tournament at Legacy Club: The main event will be held on Sunday, April 30 at Circa’s rooftop cocktail lounge, Legacy Club. The tournament will include a silent auction, cocktail reception and stunning wraparound views of the city’s skyline. Legacy Club is a luxurious lounge paying homage to Las Vegas’ founding fathers.
The poker tournament will feature cash prizes for first through fifth place with winnings up to $75,000. All funds raised from this event will stay local to Las Vegas and help Baller Dream Foundation provide community programming where cancer warriors feel supported and celebrated. Funds raised also will provide financial support to families experiencing a cancer diagnosis. Additional celebrity participants will be announced in the coming weeks.
Baller Dream Foundation was founded by Frank DeBlasi, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 29. He was fortunate to have a wonderful support network of family, friends and co-workers and he promised himself that if he survived, he would build a foundation for young people batting cancer. Now cancer-free, Frank kept his promise and created Baller Dream Foundation, where they recognized the critical need for emotional and daily living support that is not available to all young warriors battling cancer. Baller Dream works closely with children’s hospitals across the country and provides in-hospital, volunteer-led activities to help ease the minds of warriors and support their families.
Packages for the weekend range from $10,000 to $75,000 and include hotel accommodations, seats at the tournament (including buy-in), marketing packages and access to the events. To reserve seats and inquire about sponsorship packages, click here.
Baller Dream is accepting donations for their silent auctions. If interested in donating an item or experience, please contact [email protected].
About Circa Resort & Casino
Get ready for the time of your life at Circa Resort & Casino, an adults-only casino-resort concept in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. The AAA Four Diamond Circa pays homage to Vegas’ Golden Era through vintage design, old-school hospitality and nods to the city’s history while introducing high-tech advancements and innovative amenities. The resort features upscale rooms and suites; the world’s largest sportsbook; Stadium Swim, a year-round pool aqua theater; a two-story casino; Garage Mahal, a high-tech transportation hub; the luxe Legacy Club rooftop lounge; an expansive local art collection; 35,000 sq. ft of meetings and conventions space and more. Guests can indulge at original restaurant concepts including premium steaks and seafood at Barry’s Downtown Prime from Chef Barry S. Dakake and Make It Happen Hospitality; Pan-Asian fare at 8 East from Chef Dan Coughlin; deli classics at Saginaw’s Delicatessen from restaurateur Paul Saginaw; authentic Carolina barbecue at Project BBQ; and all-star menus at Victory Burger & Wings Co. from the founding family of American Coney Island. Visit circalasvegas.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @circalasvegas to stay up to date.
About Baller Dream Foundation
Baller Dream Foundation supports pediatric and young adult cancer warriors, ages 0-29, through treatment, remission, and beyond. The young people served by Baller Dream Foundation (BDF) are not called patients but instead “Ballers” Baller is a modern-day term used to describe someone incredibly resilient, courageous, and at the top of their game. Baller Dream develops lasting relationships to create an environment where kids feel supported, families feel connected, and communities feel inspired. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations to keep our programs running. Children and young adults battling cancer are facing tremendous adversity that begins with the initial diagnosis and often continues for years after that. Baller Dream Foundation aims to support these brave young warriors when and where they need it most. Our intention is for each family to realize they are not alone in their fight against cancer. Giving hope to children and families is our goal so families can lean on us at all stages of their journey. 84% of families with a child battling cancer will experience financial hardship. Baller Dream Foundation provides various levels of support to alleviate these stressors that families often encounter throughout their cancer journey. Through generous donations, Baller Dream Foundation also curates personalized “Dream Experiences” for qualifying recipients. These major gift experiences range from dream vacations, celebrity meet-and-greets, VIP access at sporting events, and many other once-in-a-lifetime adventures thanks to our partnerships. Baller Dream assists families experiencing extreme financial hardship due to their child’s illnesses. We help with medical expenses, clothing, utilities, and other essentials. Funds are carefully allocated after a complete evaluation of the family’s needs on a case-by-case basis. A cancer diagnosis’s social and emotional side effects can often generate feelings of isolation. Through Baller Dream’s community programming, they aim to create an environment where our ballers feel a sense of belonging and their families feel supported by the community. Ensuring the safety of these children and young adults is fundamental to the mission of Baller Dream. We rely on the expertise of our partnering children’s hospitals, child life specialists, social workers, and oncology nurses to identify the cancer warriors who are in need of a special lift.
