The World Poker Tour and the One Drop Foundation have announced the formation of a partnership to continue the poker world's support of One Drop's mission to provide access to clean drinking water across the globe. One Drop, which was founded in 2007 by Cirque du Soleil founder and noted poker enthusiast Guy Laliberte, has long had a prominent presence in poker, and its new partnership with the WPT ensures that the charitable entity will receive support for its ongoing humanitarian efforts.
Though a recent WPT press statement on the partnership does not include specific plans or events, it's likely that the partnership will include charitable poker-tournament offerings akin to those once offered by the WSOP in affiliation with One Drop. Through its years with the WSOP, the One Drop Foundation generated roughly $25 million in charitable revenue, akin to the $45 million the WPT has generated over the past decade in other charity efforts.
The WPT, through its World Poker Tour Foundation, has helped raise funds for nearly 40 global charities over the past decade. Beneficiaries have included Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Conservation International, Education Reform Now, K9s for Warriors, NASCAR Foundation, TGR Foundation, Special Olympics, World Central Kitchen, with One Drop now to be added to the list.
“WPT has always committed to giving back to those in need both locally and globally,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “Through the World Poker Tour Foundation™, we have utilized our position in the poker community to raise millions of dollars in funding for non-profit organizations, and we are eager to continue this charitable thread by teaming up with the incredible One Drop Foundation.”
“The One Drop Foundation has raised more than $25 million through poker events over the past decade,” said Alexandre Meunier, One Drop Foundation’s Chief Marketing and Events Officer. “We now look forward to the next milestone in our mission to improve access to safe water and living conditions for millions across the globe. We are confident the World Poker Tour is the ideal partner to help us achieve that goal, hand in hand with the global poker community.”
The One Drop Foundation's new partnership with the the WPT seemingly ends its run as a high-roller WSOP offering. Various One Drop events appeared on the WSOP's schedule over an 11-year span, from 2012 through 2022. The 2023 schedule however, includes no One Drop-benefiting offerings. Instead, the WSOP will likely focus on its growing commitment to events aiding veterans and service organizations.
Featured image source: World Poker Tour
