The 12th annual Variety Poker and Casino Night, held at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles, proved a resounding success, drawing a crowd of celebrities and poker enthusiasts to raise funds for Variety – The Children’s Charity of Southern California. The event featured a charity poker tournament, a silent auction, and an array of activities to support children with special needs.

Guests enjoyed a glamorous evening, starting with a red carpet walk alongside prominent figures like Mekhi Phifer, Omar Benson Miller, Ray J, and Omar Bolden. Special needs children also joined the red carpet, proudly displaying their custom bikes, creating a heartwarming scene as they received cheers from the crowd.

The festivities included a live auction, highlighting valuable items such as an Andy Warhol Marilyn Diptych silkscreen and a signed print of Muhammad Ali’s knockout of Sonny Liston. The highlight of the evening was the poker tournaments, with two separate games catering to different stakes levels. The high-stakes tournament saw participation from notable poker personalities and celebrities, resulting in intense competition. Brandon Jones emerged victorious in the high-stakes game, while Raffi Varozian won the mid-stakes tournament, both receiving generous gift bags and WSOPC entries.

Jamie Gold, the 2006 WSOP Main Event champion, co-hosted the event alongside actor Rob Riggle. Gold praised the event’s growth and the significant impact of Variety’s charitable efforts, noting that 85 cents of every dollar raised directly benefits the children. Riggle, although not a regular poker player, enjoyed the event immensely and made it to the final four tables, adding to the evening’s excitement.

The Variety Poker and Casino Night exemplified Hollywood glamour combined with charitable goodwill, significantly benefiting special needs children through an enjoyable and competitive evening.

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