Eastgate Charitable Organisation Set In Motion

World champion Peter Eastgate was cold as ice during the WSOP 2008 but his heart tells a different story. Instead of spending time and money with other highest-stakes players online, Eastgate and his brother Casper decided to start a charitable organisation called "Friends of Eastgate". In a press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Eastgate announced the launch of the organisation's website designed to invite others to join the cause.

Their goal is to disperse donations to charitable organisations around the world which are focused on helping children. Being the Main Event winner, he is hoping to use his recent fame in the poker world to convince other players and corporate sponsors to join him in improving lives of less fortunate children. However, fame is not his only tool in this noble cause: Eastgate will donate one per cent of his tournament earnings.

Danish poker pros have already joined his charitable organisation, namely Theo Jorgensen, Martin Vallo and Mads Andersen. They will donate 1% of their winnings from EPT Copenhagen to the cause, along with tennis legend Boris Becker who gladly agreed to do the same.

The organisation is indeed trying to animate the whole poker world as it plans to host a variety of charitable events, including a poker tournament in Copenhagen scheduled for May. Chief Operating Officer and President Claus Nielsen is also discussing with PokerStars about hosting online charity tournaments and perhaps even donating the rake on a few cash tables.