Poker Pro donates $21,000 to the homeless

Ex Golfer and online poker player Dusty Schmidt has made headlines a few times this year, firstly with his attempt to overturn the U.S Golf Association’s decision to take away his amateur status because of a poker prop bet. More recently he has been in the news with the release of his book “Treat Your Poker Like a Business” where he gives insights into his success and how to because a successful online player.

His latest project involved him spending 30 hours playing online poker in order to raise money for the charity Transition Projects which is an agency which helps the homeless find houses. The result of these thirty hours was a massive $21,000 contribution to the charity and is enough to provide accommodation for three homeless people for six months.

Schmidt said “I decided to do it shortly after my daughter was born. I felt the more difficult it was to go out and play on the streets, the more a statement it might make. He said that he appreciates the charity’s work as he has faced homelessness in the past after a heart attack left him with large unpaid medical bills and decreasing disability cheques which made it increasingly hard to pay the monthly rent. Having played some poker in the past, it was this situation that prompted him to enter the world of online poker and after 400 hours of playing he had made $7,000 dollars profits and hasn’t felt the need to look back since. 

The executive director of Transition Projects, Doreen Binder said that, “It’s extremely moving to see somebody who’s come to an understanding or a realization that there are people in need. He is donating money with the faith that this will change somebody’s life.”