The work that Los Angeles Dodgers players do in the community cannot be stated enough, and that was again the case on a recent off night at Dodger Stadium when Yasiel Puig hosted his second annual Celebrity Poker Tournament benefitting his Wild Horse Children’s Foundation.
The proceeds from this year’s event will go toward the refurbishment of fields and the creation of a community facility at Pioneer Park in partnership with the City of San Fernando, something that is very close to Puig’s heart.
“Yasiel had a really bad time when he was in Cuba, to be able to play baseball growing up was very difficult for him, he didn’t have gloves, he had to share baseballs,” Lisette Carnet, executive director of the Wild Horse Foundation, said.
“He has that arm because he used to have to hit the mangos and coconuts off the trees He came to me and told me that he wants to build a place where kids can come and they can feel safe.”
After looking throughout the greater city of Los Angeles, Carnet and Puig found Pioneer Park in San Fernando, where they could build/refurbish fields, courts and a house where kids can play, eat healthy meals, do their homework and spend time in a safe environment.
Several of Puig’s Dodgers teammates including Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner, Matt Kemp, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kiké Hernandez and Yasmani Grandal attended the event.
The Los Angeles celebrity community was also well-represented, with actors Miles Brown and Jaleel White, MMA fighters Tito Ortiz and Chuck Lidell, Lakers star Kyle Kuzma and Kings star Tyler Toffoli among those that were also in attendance and participating in the tournament.
Cedric The Entertainer served as emcee and lived up to his name as he had the crowd laughing all night, mostly at Puig’s expense. Puig was thankful for his teammates and friends for coming out to support his great cause.
“Thank you to everybody here because you helped me be able to help a lot of kids in the community of Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley,” he said. “You guys are giving me this opportunity, so thank you.”
The winner of the poker tournament got to take home a sweet prize, as World Series of Poker Champion, Jamie Gold, will provide them with private coaching prior to playing at the Main Event of The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this summer.
Gold will personally cover their $10,000 entry fee as well as provide five-star accommodations in Las Vegas and coach the winner on every break throughout the event.
There also was a silent auction with tons of cool sports memorabilia to benefit the Wild Horse Foundation.
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