YES Prep hosted its 16th Annual Oil & Gas Texas Hold 'Em Tournament on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Prioritizing safety and health, this year's event was presented as an online event instead of at The Corinthian as customary. Emanuel Banda, a sixth-grade student from YES Prep Southeast Secondary, and CEO Mark DiBella served as the evening's virtual masters of ceremonies.
Thanks to our 72 sponsors and nearly 250 guests, we raised over $740,000 through table sponsorships and $409,000 through chip purchases and donations for an incredible total of over $1.1 million in support of YES Prep!
In a thrilling final round, Vitol's Casey Khan, seated at the Sullivan Cromwell, LLP table, was crowned the winner of the 2021 tournament.
A special thank you to our three highest donating tables of the evening. Vitol took first place with a total of $140,000, followed by Colona Heavy Industries and Shearman & Sterling LLP!
We would also like to thank this year's steering committee who worked tirelessly to make the event a memorable night. Featured in the welcoming video above, the following steering committee members each shared a message with the participants: Brian Colona with Colona Heavy Industries, who has attended all 16 poker tournaments; Steve Mohtashami with Vitol; Kelli Sims with Shearman & Sterling; Jenny McCarthy with Alta Resources; as well as Leading Houston Forward campaign chair and former board chair Joe Greenberg, also with Alta Resources, and Board Chair Emeritus Mark Gregg with Kiwi Energy.
The money raised supports our 21 campuses across Houston. These funds will also support the four elementary schools that will serve pre-K students for the first time this coming school year.
The Oil & Gas Texas Hold 'Em Tournament is YES Prep's signature fundraising event, earmarked by the oil and gas industry of Houston. Since the first tournament in 2006, the event has raised more than $16 million and is attended by individuals from various business sectors from across the world in support of YES Prep.
To learn more about YES Prep's annual Oil & Gas Texas Hold 'Em Tournament, click here.
We can't wait for next year's in-person 17th Annual YES Prep Oil & Gas Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament in March 2022!