The Charity Series of Poker: Where Poker Players Give Back

Matt Stout

Matt Stout is an online and live poker pro who has amassed more than $2.5 million in tournament cashes. As impressive as that is, Matt’s success on the felt is nothing compared to the number of lives he’s changed as a volunteer, fundraiser and humanitarian.

Matt has been involved with various charities most of his life. One of the people who inspired him to work with non-profits was his older brother who was the president of Habitat for Humanity at Johns Hopkins University. Matt later followed in his brother’s footsteps by becoming the vice-president of Habitat at his own college. Even back then, Matt used poker as a means of helping people by running some “unauthorized” tournaments to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity.

Back in October 2013, Matt did an AMA with FTR during which he mentioned his support for additional charities like America’s Second Harvest and the American Cancer Society. He also discussed his continuing involvement with Habitat for Humanity and Three Square, Nevada’s only food bank. His biggest project, however, was still to come and it would take shape in the form of the Charity Series of Poker.

About The CSOP

Having developed the CSOP concept years ago, Matt officially founded the Charity Series of Poker in 2014, as a way for professional and amateur poker players to help their community by playing the game they love. Half of the buy-in’s, re-buy’s and add-on’s in any of the CSOP tournaments is given to the Three Square Food Bank, an organization which provides food to people in need in southern Nevada.

With more than 600 partners, Three Square provides healthy food to the residents of Lincoln, Nye, Esmeralda and Clark Counties who need assistance. In 2013 alone, more than 30 million pounds of food were distributed thanks to Three Square and its network. Three Square maintains a remarkable efficiency rate – 93 cents of every dollar raised goes directly toward feeding hungry people – which is one of the most important reasons why Matt chose to work with this particular charity.

The Charity Series of Poker is definitely in good hands as legendary tournament director, Matt Savage, and seasoned pro, Mike Frazin, are joining Matt on the CSOP’s board of directors. Other professionals who are teaming up with Matt’s charity to end hunger include Mike Matusow, Matt Salsberg, Michael Mizrachi, Sasha Barrese and many more.

With less than a month to go before the CSOP’s inaugural tournament, FTR had the chance to talk to Matt about the Charity Series of Poker in great detail. We hope you enjoy the brief interview and lend your support to the CSOP as it improves the lives of countless individuals.

Inaugural event

The Charity Series of Poker’s first event will be held on Sunday, July 6, 2014, at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. This will be a No Limit Hold’em tournament with a $260 +$40 buy-in and it will be a part of Planet Hollywood’s Phamous Poker Series. Unlimited re-buy’s and add-on’s will be available for $100 during the first hour of the tournament.

It is estimated that for each player who shows up, Three Square will be able to serve 1,000 meals to people in need. This means that if 100 people show up, Three Square will be able to serve 100,000 meals.

So, if you are looking for something to do on Sunday, July 6th in Vegas, this is the best way for you to play poker and meet some of the game’s top players while helping others at the same time!

For more info on the Charity Series of Poker, visit charityseriesofpoker.org or follow the CSOP on Facebook or Twitter.