Liliane Stransky, the founder and President of the
Step by Step Foundation,
will host the inaugural "All In For Charity
2010 Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament and Charity
Benefit” during the FTI Winter Equestrian
Festival on Friday, January 29, 2010. Funds raised
during the poker tournament and charity evening at
the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in
Wellington, FL will help finish the construction of
the Tipa Tipa Elementary School in Lahaie, Haiti,
the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Event Chair Margie Engel, a US Olympic show jumping
medalist, will be joined by some of the world’s
leading riders, trainers, and a slew of supporters
in the PBIEC arena for an evening of action-packed
competition. “This event is a wonderful way to
bring the equestrian community together for a very
important cause - and to have a lot of fun at the
same time,” said the Grand Prix veteran and 10 time
AGA Rider of the Year. “I’ll be bringing my
equestrian colleagues to the tables for some
competition outside the show jumping arena!” The
festivities will be held in the Corporate
Hospitality Tent alongside the main arena at from
6:30 pm to midnight.
“Completing the construction of our school is the
priority,” stated Stransky. “Currently the children
in Haiti learn sitting outside on rocks, or wood, or
in the heat or damp; under tarps or partially wooded
huts. There is no access to running water,
electricity or paved roads, and some children are
forced to walk two hours each way to attend the
nearest school. The opening of ‘Tipa Tipa,’ which
translates in French Creole as ‘step by step,’ will
mean that these youngsters will have a safe and
secure school in their community. Parents will be
able to participate in the education of their
children, and the community will play an active role
in the raising of their children. The people who
live there lack access to safe water and health
services. We are expanding our programs to
encompass those and other development projects.”
This past fall Liliane and her daughters Daniela
(14) and Samantha (21) gathered a group of youth
from South Florida for a community mission with the
Step by Step Foundation to Lahaie, Haiti. At the
remote fishing village they provided educational
supplies, clothing, uniforms, and personal water
filters to the children of the elementary school.
Daniela, who rides and trains at the family’s
Stransky Mission Farm in Wellington, donates
proceeds of her prize money earned during show
jumping competitions to Step by Step Foundation, and
encourages other young riders to do the same. “It is
not hard to help,” explains the 8th
grader who attends the Country Day School in Miami.
“Everyone can be of assistance in their own way.”
The young equestrian is hands on and when not
riding, mentors children, helps run programs and
tutors. Daniela’s goals are focused and clear - to
continue to work with her mother and the Step by
Step Foundation, become an Olympic Rider and….yes, a
professional poker player!
General admission includes access to the event,
casino tables including roulette, craps, three card
poker, and blackjack, fine fare and delicious
catering, an art auction, and a silent auction. The
highlight at the “All In For Charity 2010”
will be playing alongside the WEF equestrian stars
in the tournament and at the casino tables. All
money raised will go to finishing the construction
of the Tipa Tipa Elementary School in Lahaie, Haiti,
as well as to provide water and health services to
the impoverished community.
STEP BY STEP MISSION:
Our mission is to enhance the lives of
underprivileged children by creating and supporting,
health, nutrition, water, education and other
programs that substantially impact the human rights
and development of children worldwide, and that
contribute to the accomplishment of the Millennium
Development Goals. The goal is to establish holistic
community development programs that can be
replicated throughout Haiti, and then throughout
other impoverished communities in countries around
the world. The programs are community-driven and
involve partnerships with residents and local and
international non-profit organizations, governments,
and international development agencies. Through this
approach, Liliane Stansky aims to build community
capacity to ensure the development of systemic
programs that not only serve immediate needs, but
also create sustainable economic impact. Step by
Step Foundation, Inc., is a registered 501 (c) (3)
not for profit organization registered in the State
of Florida.
Please contact Kathy Anderson regarding sponsorships
and in-kind donations as prizes and silent auction
items for the event.
For further information and tickets please visit
www.stepbystepfoundation.com
.