Hank Azaria Poker Tournament for Geffen and Determined to Succeed

Scott Vener, Music Curator for “Entourage,”and Comedian Kevin Pollak Take Top Prizes at Hank Azaria’s Poker Tourney with Players Ben Affleck, Richard Kind and More

Actors Ben Affleck, Kevin Pollak, Grant Heslov, Richard Kind and Camryn Manheim put on their poker faces for “PLAYING FOR GOOD,” the annual tournament staged by voice of “The Simpsons” Hank Azaria for two great causes: the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood and Determined to Succeed, which provides tutors and mentoring to exceptional but economically disadvantaged students.

Taking place May 12 at the Los Angeles home of Adi and Jerry Greenberg, Scott Vener – music director for “Entourage” and other shows – captured the Grand Prize: a seat at the 2012 World Series of Poker and a glamorous Las Vegas weekend. Actor and comedian Kevin Pollak snagged second place, tweeting that day to his followers, “Yay, me! Made it to the final table… LOVE this annual event…”

It’s an easy event to love. While players competed for the day’s poker title, SpaRitual, Fresh Spa and Spa on Location pampered non-players with manicures, massages and more. Plus there were bagels, burgers, sushi from SugarFish, and specialty cocktails and a Grand Marnier tasting, courtesy of Belvedere Vodka.

ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas sponsored the tournament, which brought in $200,000 for the two causes, and also awarded deluxe rooms to all the players at the tournament’s final two tables.

More contenders were Academy Award winning writer/director/producer James L. Brooks, professional poker players Annie Duke, Perry Green and Steve Lipscomb and from the Geffen Playhouse: managing director Ken Novice, artistic director Randall Arney, board member Gil Cates, Jr., and others.

Always a star-studded occasion, last year’s players in this annual tournament to benefit the Geffen Playhouse and Determined to Succeed also included – in addition to Azaria, Affleck and Pollak – Jon Hamm, Jason Alexander, Paul Rudd and Don Cheadle.

Azaria is a co-founder of Determined to Succeed; the Greenbergs are board members of both the Geffen Playhouse and Determined to Succeed.

Top photo: Hank Azaria, the voice of “The Simpsons,” center, with event hosts Adi and Jerry Greenberg at “Playing for Good,” the Hank Azaria Poker Tournament for Geffen and Determined to Succeed

Center photo: Scott Vener, left, took the Grand Prize with Kevin Pollak capturing second place in the Hank Azaria Poker Tournament for Geffen and Determined to Succeed

Bottom photo: Ben Affleck joined in at the Hank Azaria Poker Tournament for Geffen and Determined to Succeed

Both photos by Casey Rodgers/ AP Images for the Geffen Playhouse