Brazilian Grand Prix Icon Paulo Santana Wins Step by Step Foundation’s All In for Charity Poker Tournament Championship

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Step by Step Founder Liliane Stransky & Grand Prix rider Paulo Santana, who was the evening's Poker Champion, by Mancini Photos

International Equestrians Unite to Raise Funds & Awareness for Children in Need at Dinner Benefit at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL – Olympic show jumping legend Margie Engle and international children’s charity founder Liliane Stransky joined forces for the Step by Step Foundation’s second annual All In for Charity Poker Tournament and dinner benefit on Sunday, March 13 in Wellington, FL.  After Richard Spooner rode to victory in the $25,000 Suncast Jumper Classic, the action shifted to the tents for some fast paced, high stakes gaming in the Grand Prix Pavilion at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Engle, who was the Event Chair, was on hand with Stransky to welcome guests to the fun filled evening that featured fine food and good times for a great cause. Guests enjoyed a lovely buffet dinner as DJ Mario kept the music pumping, but it was the poker action that drew in the serious players and international teams.  Stransky had assembled a strong lineup of lovely ladies on her team including Engle, event organizer Kathy Andersen, Junior Jumper champion Daniela Stransky, and grand prix veteran Hillary Dobbs.  After donning their bright orange team Polos, the girls sat down to take on all challengers and raise funds for the children.

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Junior Jumper champion Daniela Stransky and Grand Prix veteran Hillary Dobbs, by SMPR

Although Engle, the 10 X AGA Rider of the Year, had placed ahead of Paulo Santana in the $231,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix the night before, the Brazilian show jumping veteran was not to be denied in the All In for Charity Poker Tournament!  Daniel DiPicoli, Adolpho Franco, Cesar Almeiea, Gustavo Amorin and Santana made up Team Brazil. When all hands were in, it was grand prix champion Santana who was named the numero uno player, winning the Step by Step All In for Charity Poker Tournament.

Among the iconic riders in the room was the lovely Canadian couple, Danielle and Jimmy Torano. Even before the first die had been cast, Jimmy had accepted Liliane’s invitation to become a member of the Step by Step Foundation’s Advisory Board.  “It was a great way to kick start the evening,” smiled Stransky. “To have great riders like Jimmy Torano and Margie Engle behind our charity is a real honor.  Their support and assistance makes all the difference when it comes to raising awareness and spreading our message to the equestrian enthusiasts.  As we all know, the horse show world is truly an international one, and our goal is global.  We want to enhance the lives of underprivileged children worldwide by creating and supporting sustainable health, education, and wellness programs. We do this, literally Step by Step, donation by donation, rider by rider!”

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Spencer Britton and trainer Peter Pletcher step up to the tables, by Mancini Photos

Conversations flowed under the tent in English, Spanish, French, and German, with topics ranging from Haiti to horses, poker to ponies.  Rider and real estate agent Rodolfo Maya, Laura Hansen-Virginia, Richard Brant, and Nancy Hooker mingled with friends while Samantha Stransky and Julie Eddy were seen discussing designs with Parlanti USA’s Gianluca Caron. Andrea Amorin and Jennifer Santana chatted in their poker playing husbands were winning in the back. Believe it or not, some of the toughest competition at the tables came from teens and pre-teens who rubbed elbows and bluffed veteran players and big name show jumping riders. Kelsie and Clayton and twins Spencer and Clayton Britton were some of the toughest to beat, and were seen raising the stakes and upping the ante on seasoned pros.

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Hillary Dobbs, wearing her Stransky Mission Farms Team Polo, sits down to play, by Mancini Photos

While many guests in the horse business, including trainer/grand prix rider Hector Florentino and Dutch horse agent Roy Wilten, call WEF home for the season, others made a special trip to show support the charity.  Matthia and Clea Ridder and their daughter Jet Katz flew in from Holland, Miriam Berman visited for a few days from Venezuela, and Sarah Ward and Sarah Orberson Taylor came in from South Carolina. The family friendly affair had something for every age and nationality.  While some guests chose played Black Jack, Roulette or “21,” others like trainer Peter Pletcher and Kristin Brittan and Denise and Pat Patregnani and daughter Kayla (along with the family pooch) checked out the more than $50,000 of in-kind auction donations around the room.  Impressionistic artist Josee Nadeau, whose fans include Clint Eastwood and Pierce Bronson, unveiled her larger than life donation piece, one of the biggest items on the list that included everything from a pair of Lady GaGa VIP concert tickets to a custom made pair of Parlanti USA boots from Parlanti USA to a tasty dinner for 10 from Cilantro.

Sponsors included:  Stransky Mission Farms, Le Club Wellington, Zimmerman – an Omnicorn Company, GB Group, Diaz Reus Attorney & Counselors, Wellington Equine Associates, Horsemen’s Outlet, Champion Equine Insurance, Mission Farms, Rodolfo Maya, LLC and Illustrated Properties, House of Travel, Holland & Knight, Lazcar International Inc, Gold Coast Feed & Supplies, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Julia Harrison Lee, Gustovo Amorim and Amorim Stables.

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Chair Margie Engle, by Mancini Photos

STEP BY STEP MISSION: 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, establishing holistic community development programs that can be replicated throughout Haiti, and other impoverished communities around the world.  Step by Step Foundation, Inc., is a registered 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization registered in the State of Florida.

Sydney Masters
SydneyMasters2@yahoo.com
322 East 90 Street
New York, NY 10128

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