Hurricane Irma was the most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade and wreaked unimaginable devastation across the Caribbean. In its wake, The Stars Group’s corporate giving program Helping Hands launched a global appeal with its charity partner CARE International and also worked more locally in Miami with the charity Feeding South Florida in an effort to raise money for the relief efforts.

The Hurricane Irma Emergency Appeal lasted three weeks during which PokerStars, the flagship brand of The Stars Group, invited players to make donations via its software and through StarsCoin donations. Players and staff donated more than $37,500, which was then matched by Helping Hands dollar for dollar.

Over the same period, an additional $33,000 was raised during a charity poker tournament held in partnership with Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, benefiting local charity Feeding South Florida.  More than 100 entries made up the event with Helping Hands once again matching donations dollar for dollar .

A grand total of $140,000 was raised over the course of the entire campaign.

Sue Hammett, Department Head of Corporate Giving at The Stars Group said, “Once again the poker community has risen to the challenge and helped those most in need in the wake of a natural disaster. Through their support we have raised a substantial sum, which we hope will make a difference to the lives of those affected.”

CARE has been an official partner of The Stars Group since 2014. Since then, the poker community has worked together to raise more than $1.1 million in emergency aid funding.