By Chad Holloway
“To use poker as a vehicle to raise money for charity, organize and execute volunteer efforts, and raise awareness in helping others and helping our communities.” That’s the mission of the Patriot Poker Players, a team of military affiliates who have come together to play poker tournaments on behalf of military charities.
The group, which includes active and retired members of the military, was created in part by tech sergeant Timothy Montjoy of the 609th Air Communications Squadron and senior airman Todd Fuerst of the 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who were on deployment in Afghanistan when the idea originated.
“Starting any new business endeavor is an overall challenge itself,” Fuerst told PokerNews shortly after 3P’s launch. “I think being deployed and focusing on our mission here in Afghanistan and then finding the time to conduct business, document our ideas, and share them across the other side of the globe has been difficult. The support that 3P has gained is a sincere reward that shows we have something special here and is a mission we will passionately continue to serve.”
Since then the two, both family men who hail from the same part of Georgia, have returned stateside and have been joined by a plethora of other team members including Rich Brooks, Richard Kirby, Mike Ward, Jason Cruchy, Felicia Johnico, Kurt Fraser, Anthony Calicchio, Jason Fennell and Jason Roby.
“Members of the Patriot Poker Team use the same concept that they use in the military on the poker table, the concept of teamwork,” the 3P website explains. “If millions are playing and watching poker, then Patriot Poker Players have the audience to raise awareness and the skill to cash and contribute 10 percent to charities of 3P’s choice. Through poker, we aim to establish a solid team that will contribute millions of dollars to charities, volunteering countless hours, raising awareness and improving our communities.”
3P is a young organization, but members recently held their first trip to the World Series of Poker, which is where Fuerst and Montjoy, who serve as the CEO and president, respectively, not only had the chance to play, but made inroads into the industry.
Now that 3P is making their presence known in the poker world, Montjoy is excited about the future: “Currently we are working with the Randy Couture Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation, a nonprofit corporation founded by Mr. Couture, a six-year prior Army enlisted soldier and mixed martial arts fighter, as our official charity sponsor, and with Blue Shark Optics, as a supporting sponsor of 3P.”
3P, which also is working together with the Ladies International Poker Series, can be found on Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to check out 3P.
— Chad Holloway is Ante Up’s Wisconsin Ambassador. He’s also a Senior Writer for PokerNews.com and is a sponsored member of Team Blue Shark Optics. Email him at anteupchad@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter @ChadAHolloway.
