The One Drop Foundation and the World Poker Tour (WPT) announced a partnership agreement to collaborate on charitable initiatives within the poker community.
Both organizations have a strong commitment to philanthropy. One Drop, founded by former high-stakes poker player Guy Laliberte, who also founded Cirque du Soleil, is a nonprofit that provides the underprivileged around the world access to safe drinking water.
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One Drop’s Poker Connection
The Canadian-based organization has long promoted its initiatives through poker, and the poker community has stepped up to help raise money for the good causes. In 2012, 2014, and 2018, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) hosted the first ever $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop events in Las Vegas. A portion of each buy-in went to the helping people all around the world get access to safe drinking water, a cause Laliberte, and new CEO Jean-Louis Dufresne, is passionate about.
Since 2012, the WSOP has also hosted annual lower cost charity bracelet One Drop events ranging from $1,111 to $111,111. The WPT and One Drop have together raised over $70 million for various global causes over the years. Laliberte set out a goal of donating $100 million (CAD) to the organization over 25 years when he started the nonprofit in 2007.
“WPT has always committed to giving back to those in need both locally and globally,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “Through the World Poker Tour Foundation™, we have utilized our position in the poker community to raise millions of dollars in funding for non-profit organizations, and we are eager to continue this charitable thread by teaming up with the incredible One Drop Foundation.”
The WPT also has an extensive history raising money for useful causes. Over the past decade, the World Poker Tour Foundation has raised more than $45 million for over three-dozen charities, including the NASCAR Foundation, Special Olympics, and the Conservation International.
“The One Drop Foundation has raised more than $25 million through poker events over the past decade,” said Alexandre Meunier, One Drop Foundation’s Chief Marketing and Events Officer. “We now look forward to the next milestone in our mission to improve access to safe water and living conditions for millions across the globe. We are confident the World Poker Tour is the ideal partner to help us achieve that goal, hand in hand with the global poker community.”
The partnership, according to a press release, will include premier events hosted by WPT casino partners around the world. Further details will be released in the near future.