You've seen him before.
As you're flipping through the cable channels, an intriguing
figure looms at you from ESPN. Who's the city slicker with
the unlit cigarette and tiger statuette? In 1996 Sam Farha
won the Pot-Limit Omaha championship at the World Series of
Poker and took second place in 2002. Last May, Sam took
second place at the WSOP's No Limit Texas HoldEm
Championship. And now he's ready to challenge you for
charity. A world famous high limit poker player, Sam Farha,
originally from Lebanon, now calls Houston home and is
prepared to meet you at the final table on Saturday, June
26, 2004, when MECA hosts its 1st Annual Texas HoldEm
Tournament and Casino Night Gala.
Only 160 tournament
seats are available to the public, and one is yours for a
$500 tax-deductible donation. Celebrity poker players,
including Butch Alsandor, Vicente Arenas and Shern-Min Chow
of KHOU Channel 11 and Stephanie Guadian and Dave Ward of
ABC 13, as well as Council Member Mark Goldberg, Vice Mayor
Pro Tem, will each host a table. Your donation gives you a
shot at playing at the final table with Houston's own
International Poker Champion Sam Farha. The first round will
cut the field down to 20 players, with the second round
providing the final four who are to challenge Sam. No cash
prizes will be awarded. All poker players will receive chips
to participate in MECA's Casino Night and auction, as well
as a goodie bag which includes a gift certificate to
Rockfish Seafood Grill courtesy of Chef Partner Tim Leach.
$250, $125 and $75 Casino Night only tickets will be
available for those wishing to play blackjack, craps and
roulette, and to watch the tournament but not play in the
game.
Who: International Poker Champion Sam Farha and MECA
What: MECA's 1st Annual Texas HoldEm Tournament and Casino
Night Gala
When: Saturday, June 26, 2004
7:00 p.m. Buffet
7:45 p.m. Tables open
Where: 2 Houston Center
909 Fannin
Houston, Texas 77010
Admission: $500 donation to play poker ($10,000 worth of chips)
$250 Casino Night ($5,000 worth of chips)
$125 Casino Night ($2,500 worth of chips)
$75 Casino Night ($1,250 worth of chips)
Catering provided
by Dimitrios Fetokakis of Niko Niko's Greek & American Cafe
and Tim Leach of Rockfish Seafood Grill. Harris County
Constable Victor Trevino of Precinct 6 will graciously
provide security. 2 Houston Center is available to MECA free
of charge through the generosity of Crescent Real Estate
Equities, Ltd.
Multicultural
Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) is a
community-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to
promote the healthy social, cultural, and academic
development of at-risk, inner-city youth through education
in the arts. Over 1,500 students attend MECA classes, and
over 3,000 students participate in MECA workshops,
residencies and projects. MECA has served Houston's First
Ward, Sixth Ward, Near Northside and Heights Districts since
1977, providing a variety of arts education opportunities,
community performances, public art and cultural
celebrations. MECA's 27-year presence has given families and
youth a positive sense of themselves, their community and
their culture. |
