Aces UP! 2012 raises $100,000 for Urban Prep Academies

Urban Prep’s 6th Annual Aces UP! Charity Poker Tournament was hosted on Friday, November 30th at City Winery, one of ’s newest entertainment and dining venues. Event hosts, Alexi Giannoulias, Richard Roeper, Tim King and Chris Zorich were back at it again with a first class event that raised $100,000 in support of Urban Prep Academies.

Before the cards dropped, guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffet paired with luscious wines and endless premium spirits. This year’s lead sponsor, BNY Mellon Wealth Management added to the awesome prize pool for Aces UP! by raffling a holiday gift basket full of sophisticated goodies. Many guests also went “all-in” for an opportunity to sponsor a coveted red and gold striped tie for an Urban Prep senior with a special “Tie it UP” re-buy, giving tournament players additional chips for play.

As the tournament dwindled to five players competing for a portion of the $10,000 prize pool, it was city of Chicago Alderman Richard Mell who claimed the grand prize. Having ousted a table of experienced poker players, Alderman Mell won the title and bragging rights of being this year’s tournament champion. Will he remain champ next year? Make sure you’re there to find out.

Money raised at Aces UP! will go a long way toward helping Urban Prep’s students achieve their educational goals. Thank you to all of our sponsors, players, and spectators! Pictures from Aces UP! 2012 can be viewed at www.urbanprep.org/photos Aces UP! 2012 continued

Aces UP! 2012 Sponsors Aces UP! 2012 Celebrity Participants Lead Corporate Sponsor Other Sponsors , Reporter/Anchor, CBS 2 BNY Mellon Wealth Bandera Ryan Chiaverini, Co-Host, Windy City Live Management Brown Sugar Bakery Roe Conn, Radio Personality/WLS-Roe Conn Show Pocket Rockets Sponsor Daniel George, Chicago Christina Filiaggi, Radio Personality/WLS-Row Conn Show Americaneagle.com East Bank Club Flemings Steakhouse and The Honorable John Fritchey, Commissioner, Cook County Big Slick Sponsors Wine Bar Alexi Giannoulias, Former Illinois State Treasurer MB Real Estate Horseshoe Casino FSH Communications ShowPlace ICON Theaters The Honorable Stephanie Neely, Treasurer, City of Chicago Jenner & Block Target Susanna Negovan, Editor/Splash—Chicago Sun Times

Suited Connectors Sponsors Amanda Puck, Executive Vice President/XA, Associated Bank The Experiential Agency CS Insurance Strategies Richard Roeper, Columnist, Chicago Sun-Times and Sweet Mandy B’s TV/Radio Personality Ziegler Ameet Sachdev, Business Reporter, Chicago Tribune

Chris Zorich, College Football Hall of Famer

URBAN PREP ACADEMIES

Urban Prep Charter Academy For Young Men 420 North Wabash • Suite 300 www.urbanprep.org Bronzeville Campus • Englewood Campus • West Campus Chicago, Illinois 60611 p 312.276.0259 f 312.755.1050 WE BELIEVE.