Unless you’re Allen Kessler, you’ve no doubt heard of Jeremy Renner, one of the most popular and successful actors in both television and film. He’s Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, had breakout roles in The Hurt Lockerand Wind River, is a part of both the Mission: Impossibleand Jason Bournefranchises, and is The Mayor of Kingstown.
Last weekend, the thespian took on a new role as host of a celebrity charity poker event in Las Vegas.
The $300 buy-in Heroes Fore Kids Celebrity Poker Showdown, which was held in the Venetian’s new poker room, featured a $20K GTD and was part of a charity weekend (it also included a golf outing and concert series) to benefit the RennerVation Foundation, a non-profit started in 2023 to serve northern Nevada’s disadvantaged youth.
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Renner did not actually play the event – which attracted 59 players who accounted for countless rebuys – but he was in the room mingling with players, posing for photos, and generally being a great ambassador for the charity, which is run by his sister, Kym.
Some familiar faces that did play were actor Richard Kind (Inside Out, A Bug’s Life, Argo, A Serious Man) and poker personality Joey Ingram. Likewise, Connor Woodland (pictured alongside Renner in the lead photo) was also in attendance after winning his seat via the prior weekend’s PokerNewsPodcast Meet-Up Game (MUG) nightly tournament at Resorts World.
Both Ingram and Woodland found themselves at the final table, but the former was the first to go in ninth place for $1,000 cash plus a seat into a $200 Milestone Satellite. Woodland, who proudly wore his Global Poker hoodie, did a bit better finishing in sixth place after losing a flip and then running into pocket aces, though received the same payout plus a special bottle of bourbon.
The final three players in the tournament ended up striking a deal that saw them each take home over $4,300 and all received a Ritmo Mundo Watch.
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Russell | $4,334* + Ritmo Mundo Watch |
| 2 | Margaret Zampino | $4,333* + Ritmo Mundo Watch |
| 3 | Adam Stone | $4,333* + Ritmo Mundo Watch |
| 4 | Michael Byerly | $2,000 + $200 Milestone Satellite |
| 5 | Jay Park | $1,000 + $200 Milestone Satellite |
| 6 | Connor Woodland | $1,000 + $200 Milestone Satellite |
| 7 | Kyle Kemp | $1,000 + $200 Milestone Satellite |
| 8 | Kathleen Bohnsack | $1,000 + $200 Milestone Satellite |
| 9 | Joey Ingram | $1,000 + $200 Milestone Satellite |
*Denotes three-handed deal.
By all accounts, the foundation's first attempt at a charity poker tournament was a big success from start to finish. Whether or not they return in the future remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, if they do the field will inevitably be even bigger as poker players learn they could have the chance to meet Renner while playing the game they love.
The award-winning actor started the RennerVation Foundation after a near-fatal car accident in northern Nevada in January 2023.
“It is the mission of the RennerVation Foundation to create a community where all children feel valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their dreams,” Renner said in a press release. “The programs and services that the RennerVation Foundation provides give children a chance to embrace a childhood filled with joy, growth, and belonging.”
Learn more about the RennerVation Foundation at rennervationfoundation.org.
