FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Jennifer Burns
214.415.1952
Erin Andrews, Jessica Simpson, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Banks, Burton Gilliam Join the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer, at the 3rd Annual “A Sunny Place for Shady People”
(Dallas, Texas) January 9, 2013- The 3rd Annual “A Sunny Place for Shady People” Hold’em Tournament & Chicken Drop will take place on Friday, January 18th at the Fashion Industry Gallery (f.i.g.) in downtown Dallas, benefitting the Carson Leslie Foundation. Last year’s event raised over $100,000 supporting the Foundation’s mission to fund research in an effort to cure Pediatric Cancer, and to enrich the lives of teens in the battle.
Attendees will have the opportunity to compete against Dallas’ own Clayton Kershaw, who is presently a pitcher for the LA Dodgers, Tony Banks, former NFL quarterback and Burton Gilliam of Blazing Saddles in a Texas Hold’em tournament.
Live and Silent Auctions will also be held throughout the evening. ‘Dinner with Erin Andrews & 7 of your buddies at Nick & Sam’s Uptown/Dallas,’ is sure to be a hot auction item in many ways! Carson met Erin at the Yankees vs. Rangers game and won her heart with his charming moxie. As he walked up the stairs to watch the game, Carson grabbed a baseball and wrote his name, email address & cell number on it, shouting “HEY ERIN!”, then winked and threw her the ball and said, “Call me!” …and she did! They kept in touch for the rest of his life.
Carson always wanted to meet Jessica Simpson and when cancer kept growing, his buddy William Noble arranged that meeting. Carson and Jessica also stayed in touch for the rest of his life. Jessica is now extremely supportive of the foundation’s auxiliary group, called the Shady Ladies: details at https://carsonlesliefoundation.org/.
Other featured auction items include ‘must have’ bling from William Noble Rare Jewels, and a trip to Cayo Espanto, a private island off the coast of Belize.
Carson insisted that upon his death his brain be donated to research with one goal – to help the next kid. Thus the Carson Leslie Foundation was born, and a decision was made to always have an event in January because Carson died in January. His dying wish ‘to fight for the next kid’ keeps us focused on his goal during this very difficult month.
The Carson Leslie Foundation is an approved IRS 501c3 foundation; tax ID# 01-0945033. The foundation is dedicated to raising funds for research to cure Pediatric Cancer, and to enrich the lives of teens in the battle.
Tickets for the event are $75, and may be purchased at https://carsonlesliefoundation.org/ until January 17!
Keyea Webster, Event Chair
Annette Leslie, Executive Director for the Carson Leslie Foundation
carrymecarson@gmail.com, 214.417.2155