World Series of Poker Main Event champion, Martin Jacobson, has donated $250,000 to Raising for Effective Giving after his big $10m win back in November.
Martin Jacobson is poker’s world champion.
He is our figurehead.
The integrity and values of our world champion are paramount (just ask Joe Hachem), and the young London-based Swede has started off in fine fettle after donating $250,000 to the non-profit organization Raising for Effective Giving (REG).
REG was founded by, amongst others, Philipp Gruissem, Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree as a way to create a charitable movement of poker players who could make a difference in the world by the use of scientific and rational decision making in order to find the most effective interventions.
Viewers of the 2014 WSOP Main Event final table will have no doubt noticed the REG patch glued to the rather impressive left bicep of the blonde bombshell, and it’s nice to see him come through after the biggest win of his life.
According to REG’s Facebook page Jacobson has a 5% REG commitment, meaning he donates 5% of all gross winnings to cost effective charities. Jorryt van Hoof was also wearing a REG patch in the same final table, but details of his donations have so far not been made public.
“The amount I’m donating doesn’t have a significant impact on my life by any means, but knowing it can save other lives makes it a no-brainer.” Jacobson told REG.
Animal welfare is close to Jacobson’s rather large heart. $125,000 of his donation will go to effective animal charities, where it’s believed his money will save more than 300,000 animals from a life of suffering on factory farms.
The other $125,000 will go towards “meta” charities. If you don’t know what a “meta” charity is then REG can enlighten you.
“The research and tracking of the effectiveness of “direct” charities, and towards spreading the idea of effective giving, with the aim of motivating more people to start giving unusually high amounts to unusually effective causes.”
