Local Charities Play Side-by-Side With Billiards Pros At Rivers Casino

Habitat for Humanity and Strong Women Strong Girls Go Head-to-Head on March 9 

PITTSBURGH — March 2, 2016 — There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to up the ante. On Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m., representatives from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh and Strong Women Strong Girls will play side-by-side with recognizable names in women’s billiards such as Ga-Young Kim, Jennifer Barretta and Brittany Bryant. The charity pro-am event is the kickoff to the first-ever Rivers U.S. Open, presented by the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA.)

Participants from the charities will be placed on teams led by the professionals for a friendly competition between the two organizations. The event will conclude with a donation check presentation from Rivers Casino to both Habitat for Humanity and Strong Women Strong Girls. The event is open to the public and is free of charge.

“The Rivers U.S. Open presents an amazing opportunity to work with two of our esteemed community partners for a night of fun and philanthropy,” said Rahmon Hart, Director of Community Development at Rivers Casino. “Rivers Casino welcomes all of the participants from the WPBA, Habitat for Humanity and Strong Women Strong Girls.”

Immediately following the pro-am, guests and spectators will be welcome to challenge the pros to head-to-head matches in the “Shoot the Pros” challenge. WPBA players will take on Rivers Casino guests from 9—10 p.m. for $20 per match. All proceeds from “Shoot the Pros” will be given to Habitat for Humanity and Strong Women Strong Girls.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh aims to eliminate substandard housing in Allegheny County and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The organization brings together volunteers to build and rehabilitate homes, support communities and spread hope.

“Our team is excited to play alongside the best in women’s billiards at Rivers Casino,” said Colleen Cadman, event and development coordinator at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh. “We’re looking forward to a fun competition with Strong Women Strong Girls.”

Strong Women Strong Girls empowers girls to imagine a broader future through a curriculum grounded on female role models delivered by college women mentors, who are themselves mentored by professional women. Strong Women Strong Girls’ Pittsburgh office celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2016.

“It is a pleasure to join the WPBA and Habitat for Humanity for this friendly matchup,” said Sabrina Saunders, executive director of Strong Women Strong Girls. “Thank you to Rivers Casino for organizing and hosting this truly special night.”

The charity pro-am kicks off four days of tournament play at Rivers Casino. From March 10—13, the top-ranked sharpshooters of the WPBA will compete for the championship prize in the inaugural Rivers U.S. Open. The tournament is open to the public, free of charge. Guests visiting Rivers Casino must be 21 years of age or older.

For more information about Rivers Casino, please visit www.riverscasino.com.

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ABOUT RIVERS CASINO
Opened in 2009, Rivers Casino has been voted a “Best Place to Work” in the Pittsburgh Business Times, a “Top Workplace” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Best Overall Gaming Resort" in Pennsylvania by Casino Player magazine and "Best Overall Casino" in Pennsylvania by Strictly Slots magazine. The casino features more than 2,900 slots, 83 table games, a 30-table poker room, nine distinctive restaurants and bars, a riverside amphitheater, a multi-purpose event space, live music performances, free parking and multiple promotions and giveaways daily. Already, more than $542 million in jackpots have been awarded to players at Rivers Casino. For more information, visit riverscasino.com.  

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL BILLIARD ASSOCIATION (WPBA)
The WPBA was established in 1976 under the name of Women's Professional Billiard Alliance and is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2016 as the oldest pro player organization in the sport. The WPBA sanctions and produces the Women's Pro Billiard Tour which features the greatest women players from around the world. For more information about the WPBA, its top players, and sponsors, visit www.WPBA.com or find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WPBATour and Twitter: https://twitter.com/WPBAbilliards.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Emily Adams
For Rivers Casino
268-932-8760 x 308
[email protected]

Kimberly Newsome
For WPBA
713-825-1411
[email protected]