Contact Information: Contact: Lisa Wheeler Public Relations Poker Players Social Network (PPSN) 9824 Cross Creek Way Las Vegas, Nevada 89117 Phone: (702) 327-7250 http://www.pokerplayerssocialnetwork.com Media Contact: Lara Miller Public Relations GreasieWheels, LLC 9824 Cross Creek Way Las Vegas, Nevada 89117 Phone: (702) 379-1825 http://www.greasiewheels.com Elina Heng Terpin Communications Phone: (310) 821-6100 x108
LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - March 5, 2008) - On the heels of winning last week's L.A.
Poker Classic and his first World Poker Tour (WPT) bracelet, and then
placing third in this weekend's NBC National Heads Up Championship, the
usually private and reserved poker professional Phil Ivey made a generous
$50,000 donation to Empowered 2 Excel (E2E), a local Las Vegas Christian
Academy.
Ivey also announced on Sunday that he intends to continue his grandfather's
philanthropic legacy through The Budding Ivey Foundation, named in part
after the late Leonard "Bud" Simmons. The Budding Ivey Foundation will be
led by Ivey's close friend R. Winston Morgan, secretary LaTosha Perry, and
Ivey's mother Pamela, who will serve as the foundation's treasurer. The
foundation's non-profit status is currently pending. E2E is one of the many
programs that will fall under the umbrella of The Budding Ivey Foundation.
"I've been given a lot of gifts," said Ivey from his Las Vegas home during
a meeting with Budding Ivey Foundation representatives. "This foundation
provides me an opportunity to give back."
Currently in development, Empowered 2 Excel was founded and created by
former Clark County School District (CCSD) fifth grade teacher Angela Rawls
and her childhood friend Toni Ellis, a former CCSD Middle School guidance
counselor. E2E is a faith based educational program whose mission is to
promote academic excellence, build character, and encourage wellness in
youth through positive reinforcement. E2E has recently leased a newly built
facility, located at 5175 Camino Al Norte, in North Las Vegas, Nevada, that
will serve as a model for future E2E academies. Though E2E is Rawls' and
Ellis' long awaited educational dream, the inspiration for the North Las
Vegas based center came from Oprah Winfrey's South African Leadership
Academy for Girls. The E2E Academy will serve to provide a supportive and
respectful environment for kindergarten through fifth grade students. It is
currently accepting enrollment.
"My grandfather set the bar on personal achievements, charitable work, and
community service," stated Ivey. "Filling his shoes will be hard work, but
I'm always up to a challenge and I'm committed to continue his legacy."
E2E is desperately seeking sponsorship, donations, educational materials,
and resources in order to grant scholarships opportunities to academically
qualified underprivileged children.
For more information on The Budding Ivey Foundation contact Pamela Ivey at
PR146@aol.com or LaTosha Perry at latosha@philiveyfoundation.com. For
information about the Empowered 2 Excel program or if ways you can help,
contact Angela Rawls at angelarawls@gmail.com or Toni Ellis at
hisgoodtreasure@yahoo.com or visit www.empowered2excel.com. Terpin
Communications will be providing public relations services; please contact
Elina Heng at elina@terpin.com or Lara Miller of GreasieWheels
lara@greasiewheels.com for all media inquiries.
Exclusive photos of Phil Ivey and 63 other invited professional poker
players at the NBC National Heads Up Championship in Las Vegas are now
available for editorial purposes courtesy of the PokerPlayersSocialNetwork
(PPSN). Visit the GreasieWheels Photo Store at www.gwphotostore.com.
About Empowered 2 Excel
Empowered 2 Excel Adventist Academy is a non-profit organization that
concentrates on improving the quality of life for youth by focusing on
academic excellence, social-growth and character education, and movement
and nutrition classes. The administrators are highly qualified licensed
educators and counselors. Gender specific curriculums are offered in order
to focus on gender specific academic needs. Reduced sized classes optimize
instructional efficiency. E2E will offer programs, workshops, and seminars
addressing specific community needs. Parents desperately seeking
alternative educational environments for their children can turn to E2E for
their children's academics. The founders will ensure a safe environment
where creativity is welcomed, individuality is embraced, and discovery of
one's purpose in encouraged. www.empowered2excel.com
About GreasieWheels
Founded in 2007, GreasieWheels, LLC is dedicated to promotional,
production, talent, and coordination needs. With more than 40 years of
combined sales, public relations, photographic, editorial, and special
event coordination experience, our team of professionals has been providing
optimal products and services for nearly a decade. Visit
www.greasiewheels.com and see what we can do for you.
About Poker Players Social Network
PPSN is a social network dedicated to the poker world and poker
enthusiasts, as it empowers poker players worldwide to creatively express
themselves, build personal communities, share ideas, promote themselves,
their business with their friends and other members in an online
environment. PPSN is headquartered in Kirkland, WA and is staffed by
employees based in Kirkland, WA and Las Vegas, NV. PPSN is privately held,
and privately funded. www.pokerplayerssocialnetwork.com
About Terpin Communications
Terpin Communications, Inc. is a full-service public relations and
marketing strategy firm, with an international client base and strong
domain expertise in high technology, entertainment/gaming, medical/consumer
health and consumer products. The Firm is headquartered in Marina del Rey,
CA, with satellite offices in San Francisco, Las Vegas and New York. In
addition, the Firm's social media marketing division, SocialRadius
(www.socialradi.us), develops social media outreach and thought leadership
programs across blogs, podcasts, viral video and social networks.