We are pleased to announce that PokerStars and entire Tilt Poker staff and players have donated a grand total of $US280,039.13 to the Typhoon Haiyan appeal fund. The Rational Group may be matching these funds, bringing the entire amount raised to $US560,078.26.
Houses, farms and businesses has been destroyed, with numerous critical infrastructure damaged. These funds might be utilized by CARE to assist deliver emergency aid to families in desperate need of help. CARE aims to offer lifesaving food, shelter and assistance to 200,000 people (40,000 families) and help communities recover within the months and years to come.
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The mettle of a company could be best judged whilst you see the way it responds to challenges.
The Rational Group has an extended history of rising to challenges and rallying forces to satisfy community needs. We do that because poker players are a caring and generous bunch and since our employees are devoted to service not just to our players but to our communities.
We certainly don't do it for the popularity... but it surely is gratifying when it comes.
Last week, we proudly accepted the Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility by the Isle of Man Newspapers group. There are lots of definitions of corporate responsibility. For us, it's in our daily business lives through things like our commitment to best-in-breed responsible gaming practices and ensuring game integrity and player fund security. It's in our annual charitable and sponsorship support to the communities where we are living and work. It is also within the spontaneous times when our skills and resources could make a difference. Like earlier this year when the Isle of Man suffered a snowstorm of the century that took the lives of thousands of livestock and threatened the livelihood of many in our farm community. Sixty staff members dropped what they were doing according to an emergency request from the area people and got out their shovels to start out digging through 9-foot snow drifts. Or last year when it looked as though the Isle of Man's mobile library would lose its funding and was going to be closed down, we stepped in with funds in order for those in remote island communities, including many that cannot leave their homes, could continue to appear forward to their next book delivery.
From funding the building of a prime school in Costa Rica to contributing engineering expertise to exciting projects comparable to Cancer Research UK's Citizen Science Project Gamejam in London, we will do a little amazing things by pulling together and tapping our skills and resources.
Being a responsible company also means being prepared upfront for when a choice for help comes suddenly. Earlier this year, we created a partnership with humanitarian organization CARE International through our new Helping Hands charity programme in order that lets quickly activate our player communities to have the same opinion in times of need. As these items go, the ink was barely dry when Typhoon Haiyan devastated areas of the Philippines earlier this month.
Within 48 hours we created an internet mechanism for PokerStars and entire Tilt Poker players to donate and promised to compare all funds our players provided. This appeal will continue until December 4th (midnight ET) but thus far our players have responded with $247,000 in donations, meaning that with the Rational Group's contribution we're on our method to providing greater than $500,000 to CARE (and there is still time to contribute). We've also provided some way for our staff members to contribute to CARE, and we'll be matching those contributions as well.
Players donate by buying-in to a tournament that they never actually play. So, like us, they do not contribute for the popularity; they do it because it is the right thing. That said, it's nice to be recognized and the folks at CARE sent along this video message thanking our players and our staff for his or her important contribution to Haiyan relief.
We're proud to be related to CARE and to be a conduit for our players, who prove over and over again how generous the poker community may also be. The feedback is solely the cherry at the top.
How you'll be able to contribute
1. Open the PokerStars lobby.
2. Click 'Tourney'.
3. Click 'All' and sort 'Haiyan' into the hunt box.
4. Register for tournaments equal to the dimensions of the donation you need to pledge (and PokerStars will match it).
Eric Hollreiser is Head of Corporate Communications for PokerStars.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Corporate Blog]
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