Poker legend Phil Hellmuth to host first annual Raise Your Hand for Africa charity poker tournament

Some of the world's best poker pros will join Hollywood and music industry celebrities in Las Vegas during the first annual Texas Hold'em Raise Your Hand for Africa charity poker tournament benefiting the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and Pros for Africa, a non-profit relief organization providing basic needs to the children of Africa.

The event will be held on February 18 and 19, 2011 at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas and will be hosted and presented by World Series of Poker multiple bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth Jr, along with event co-hosts and NFL stars Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (Arizona Cardinals) and Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings).

Poker fans and sports enthusiasts are invited to meet, greet, party and play with some of the world's best known pros and celebrity poker players and invited guests, including actors Steve Martin, Don Cheadle, Kevin Sorbo, Verne Troyer, Lou Ferrigno, and Kenny Johnson; musical artists Jordin Sparks, Gabe Saporta and Sam Moore; football stars Bernard Berrian (Minnesota Vikings), Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings), Chris Canty (New York Giants), Mark Clayton (St. Louis Rams), Larry Johnson (Washington Redskins), Curtis Lofton (Atlanta Falcons), Bryant McKinnie (Minnesota Vikings), and Roy Williams (Cincinnati Bengals); and poker pros Annie Duke, Liz Lieu and Michelle Lau.

"The Starkey Hearing Foundation's mission is to bring the gift of hearing to those in need. Our goal is to raise awareness and the necessary funds to help the world's hearing impaired, and we thank the football and entertainment communities as well as our event partners for staging this great tournament and rallying their fans to support our upcoming mission to Africa." said Bill Austin, Chief Executive Officer of Starkey Laboratories and Founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Funds raised from the Raise Your Hand for Africa event will be used to bring basic necessities to African woman and children, as part of Starkey Hearing Foundation's special hearing mission, which will distribute hearing aids, custom fittings, audio testing, batteries and counseling in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.

The two-day event includes a VIP reception on Friday, February 18 and the main event on Saturday, February 19 including red carpet arrivals, tournament and post-tournament party. A $2,000 participation fee guarantees guests a seat at the table to the main event, as well as two passes to Friday's VIP reception, two spectator passes, and two passes to the Saturday post-tournament party. Additional levels of participation are available, along with full table packages. Prizes include a 2011 second production CSM #2 Mustang Shelby; all expense paid trips to exotic destinations; and much more. Space is limited.

The nationally-syndicated poker show, Heartland Poker Tour, will produce a one-hour special episode highlighting Raise Your Hand for Africa that includes HPT's final table set, on-air commentators Fred Bevill and Chris Hanson, and roving camera crews. This first-of-its-kind special airs nationwide the week of April 11.