Celebrities and Poker Pro’s Ready for Charity Poker Tournament Next Week
June 24th, 2008
The second annual Ante Up For Africa poker tournament is set to take place next week on July 2nd at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, home of the World Series of Poker currently under way at the moment.
Created by actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, the Ante Up for Africa tournament hopes to raise public awareness and funds to support the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Last year’s Ante Up For Africa event featured a host of Hollywood celebrities and poker professionals and raised more than $700,000.
Among those expected to participate this year are Hollywood stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Charles Barkley (despite his self-imposed pledge not to gamble "for a year or two"), Jason Kidd, Kevin Pollack, Cheryl Hines, George Lopez, and Joe Trohman amongst others.
Also playing will be renowned poker professionals Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Laak, Erik Seidel, Phil Gordon, Rafe Furst, Barry Greenstein as well many more.
Poker pro Annie Duke said: "After the success of last year’s tournament, we are looking forward to another exciting year while raising awareness for an ongoing crisis. It is exciting to bring the world of poker and entertainment together and we are once again asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to our charities."
Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle said: "I was elated that we raised over $700,000 last year. I am so grateful for everyone’s participation and generosity in helping us continue to bring the plight of the refugees of Darfur to the forefront of people’s minds. I hope we can raise even more this year."
Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the WSOP said: "The poker community has a unique opportunity to help ease the suffering in Darfur. The stars are coming out for this special event once again and we encourage everyone to register early before we sell out."
Cheadle, an accomplished poker player, and Duke, who has more than $4 million in tournament winnings, are committed to raising both public awareness about the tragedy in Darfur and funds to aid its victims.
Proceeds from this year’s tournament will go to two charities:
ENOUGH, enoughproject.org, is a joint initiative of the International Crisis Group and the Centre for American Progress, which aims to end crimes against humanity in Darfur, Northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to prevent future mass atrocities wherever they occur.
Not On Our Watch, notonourwatchproject.org, founded by actors George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt, which has endeavoured to focus global attention and resources towards putting an end to mass atrocities around the world.
The group has adopted the crisis in Darfur, Africa, as its inaugural campaign. Drawing on the powerful voices of artists, activists and cultural leaders, NOOW generates lifesaving humanitarian assistance and protection for the vulnerable, marginalized and displaced.
Comments to this post
