Westbrook’s Sixth Poker Night Raises Nearly $1 Million for Why Not? Foundation
Michail Grigorev won the Fontainebleau Las Vegas tournament as the charity series approached $3 million raised over six years.
- The sixth Why Not? Foundation Poker Night raised nearly $1 million and brought its six-year total close to $3 million.
- The Sept. 18 fundraiser was held at Fontainebleau Las Vegas with the World Poker Tour Foundation.
- Michail Grigorev won the tournament after a final table that included Princess Love and Randall Emmett.
- The Why Not? Foundation supports underserved communities through education, mental health and workforce-development programs.
Russell Westbrook’s sixth annual Why Not? Foundation Poker Night raised nearly $1 million, lifting the charity fundraiser’s six-year total to almost $3 million. The Sept. 18 event was held at Fontainebleau Las Vegas in partnership with the World Poker Tour Foundation.
As reported on Sept. 18, the sixth Poker Night was set to make its Fontainebleau debut, with the members-only Poodle Room hosting the event. PokerNews reported that tournament entry cost $10,000 and included a one-night stay at the resort.
The field mixed poker names and NBA figures, including Phil Ivey, Michael Mizrachi, DeAndre Jordan and Harrison Barnes. Vince Van Patten also attended.
Michail Grigorev won the tournament, beating a final table that included Princess Love and Randall Emmett. Westbrook played but was eliminated after moving all in with top pair against Love’s flopped top two pair; Ivey and Mizrachi also missed the final table.
The poker competition served the foundation’s broader fundraising mission. Founded in 2012, the Why Not? Foundation supports underserved communities through educational opportunities, mental-health initiatives and workforce-development programs, while encouraging young people to build resilience.
The World Poker Tour Foundation, launched in 2012, says it has raised more than $50 million through more than 50 charity events supporting causes including human rights, education, world hunger and the environment. Fontainebleau Las Vegas President Maurice Wooden said the resort was honored to help continue the impact Westbrook and his foundation have built for young people in Los Angeles.
