Chris Moneymaker wins the BCA Celebrity Poker Tournament

Breast Cancer Alliance hosted its second Livestream Celebrity Poker Tournament. In partnership with Faded Spade and the Woman’s Poker Association, with media sponsor Westchester and Fairfield County Business Journals, the event attracted some of the world’s top poker players and most celebrated commentators. The winner, world champion Chris Moneymaker, known for revolutionizing the game with his “Moneymaker Effect” said “I enjoy helping charities and with the pandemic it has been difficult to go out and support many in person. The online Breast Cancer Alliance tournament enabled me to help from the safety of my home and I will say that almost everyone knows someone touched by breast cancer and how it can upend lives.”

Tournament Host Jamie Kerstetter, professional poker player, ESPN commentator, podcast host and Twitter Personality of the Year winner, was joined as in the evening’s commentary by Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director of Breast Cancer Alliance and Tara Windsor Smith, Vice President Women’s Poker Association and Faded Spade. Famous guests and pro poker stars stopped by to offer stories and tips as well: Jennifer Shahade, host of two award winning podcasts, the Poker Grid and Ladies Knight and a two-time US Women’s Chess Campion, Jessie Sylvia, runner up in the World Series of Poker Main Event for $5M and Dan Smith, one of the highest earning poker players of all time and organizer the annual Double Up Drive for charity.
Women’s Poker Association Vice President, Tara Windsor Smith said “The board of the Women's Poker Association jumped at the opportunity to help promote and be involved in this fantastic event! COVID doesn't stop cancer. Thankfully the BCA found a creative way to continue fundraising efforts, in the form of a virtual poker tournament. Yonni and the rest of the BCA team are working just as hard, if not harder, during these unique covid times. Our very own board member, Ruth Hall, WPA Player of the Year is a two time breast cancer survivor so we already felt an extreme closeness to the BCA. The WPA is extremely grateful & honored to be involved with this amazing organization.
Ms. Wattenmaker shared “Breast Cancer Alliance works tirelessly, even during COVID-19, to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer. Among the difficulties this pandemic brings, patients are living with heightened anxiety and greater barriers to care, and critical research has faced challenging delays. Events like this broaden awareness of the important work of BCA and help to raise critical funds to support continued advancement of the field.”
Breast Cancer Alliance (BCA) is one of the country’s largest the private, non-corporate breast cancer organizations in the United States, awarding more than $29 million in grants, supporting its mission to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment, and cure. Breast Cancer Alliance invests in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support, and screening for the underserved. Over its more than two-decade history, BCA has funded cutting-edge research and one-year postgraduate breast surgery fellowships at more than 25 of the nation’s leading research institutions.