Youth Programs Secure $50,000 Through Poker Fundraiser

The Santa Monica Police Activities League raised funds for local after-school services via a charity poker tournament.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Philanthropy

A neat stack of unnumbered ivory gaming chips rests on a polished wooden table in a sunlit community facility.
The Santa Monica Police Activities League raised over $50,000 for local youth after-school programs during an October 17 charity fundraiser. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Santa Monica Police Activities League raised over $50,000 for youth programs during a charity poker tournament held on October 17. The proceeds support free after-school, fitness, and leadership activities for individuals ages 6 to 17.

Why it matters

Local charitable events like this provide essential funding for extracurricular programming that supports area youth development. These initiatives rely on community-based fundraising to sustain free services for residents.

The tournament drew 90 participants to raise over $50,000 for youth programs serving ages 6 to 17. The total funds raised represent the recent influx of capital for after-school, recreational, and leadership initiatives.

The players

Santa Monica Police Activities League

A local non-profit organization that provides free after-school educational, fitness, and leadership programs.

Moe Ansari

The winner of the 2026 charity poker tournament title.

Clipper Darrell

The professional emcee who presided over the charity event.

The details

The event, held at the Santa Monica Moose Lodge, combined competitive play with dinner and general fundraising activities. Proceeds directly offset costs for free after-school services, ensuring program accessibility for local families. The organizational structure focuses on educational and fitness-based programming for the specified youth age bracket.

Timeline

  1. Oct. 17, 2026: The annual Charity Poker Tournament occurred.

Market Landscape

This fundraiser follows the precedent established by the Santa Monica Police Activities League annual Charity Poker Tournament. It reflects a standard model for local non-profit funding where community-based events support the continuity of essential youth services.

Owners and operators should monitor community-based fundraising trends as indicators of local social program stability. Understanding these funding cycles can help businesses better align their corporate social responsibility efforts with city needs.

The takeaway

Charity tournaments remain a consistent mechanism for bridging the gap in funding for youth-focused after-school programs. Business owners interested in community engagement should monitor the Santa Monica Police Activities League website for future annual event schedules.

Further reading

For more on how local organizations sustain operations, see Philanthropy.

More information

Find more details on youth programming at the Santa Monica Police Activities League website.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Monica Daily Press.

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Do you feel community members should personally fund local youth programs through charity events?