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Celebs Ante Up for Darfur

by celebuzz on Jul. 3, 2008 10:30 AM / Leave a Comment
Celebs Ante Up for Darfur
WENN

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle starred in Ante Up for Africa, a charity no-limit Texas Hold 'Em tournament at the Rio Pavilion in Las Vegas to raise money for the victims of the crisis in Darfur.

Cheadle started the fundraiser last year with celebrity poker player Annie Duke, and it's a big draw.

Stars on hand included Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Jason Alexander and George Lopez.

"It's just great to see everybody," Cheadle told E! Online before playing. "Don't expect to win, because it's mine."

Proceeds went to two organizations: Not on Our Watch, the advocacy group started by Cheadle, Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt (good pedigree, eh?); and ENOUGH, an initiative working to end civil conflicts in Darfur, Uganda and Congo.

"When there's no actual money for me, I'm very good," Alexander cracked.

No matter what kind of hand he draws, he's still playing George Costanza.

Quotables /
“BFFs Matt Damon and Ben Affleck keep wraps on each other at the Ante Up For Africa charity poker tournament during the World Series of Poker at the Rio hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 2.

Former Seinfeld star Jason Alexander was also in attendance.

Ante Up For Africa is a No Limit Texas Hold-Em Tournament in association with the World Series of Poker. Proceeds from the event will once again go to charities that provide aid and assistance to the survivors of the crisis in Darfur, Sudan and support activism dedicated to resolving this crisis.”
Just Jared
“Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are proof that two people can use each other to get famous and not end up hating each other. In fact, they can continue to adore each other, while continuing to get more famous. Separately.

And then they can use each other again, in new ways, as they get older and still more famous.

Such was the case Saturday night, when Ben and Matt brought Jennifer Garner and Luciana Barroso out to dinner for an evening of joke-telling, 'entertaining the girls with stories,' and reminiscing on the days when they were just two Massachusetts boys struggling to get a lucky break in big bad Hollywood.

Ah, yes, the good ole days. If only they could go back...”
Pacific Coast News
“Proving that the humanitarian bug can be a very contagious condition, Ocean's 11 stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon appear to have infected one another and are teaming up to spread their well-wishes to those affected by the devastation that took place in Myanmar in May. Do you like how I made it sound like a disease? It's because I'm dead inside.

The three A-listers helped kick off the launch of the Cycolne aid advertising campaign sponsored by the Not On Our Watch organization, purchasing a full-page ad for Wednesday's edition of the Jakarta Post advertising their cause of directing more aid to the victims of the natural disaster.

The ad states, "Burma's neighbors have the power to help victims who remain desperately in need" and claims that the ruling government's refusal to accept foreign aid is crippling those suffering.”
Socialite Life
“Ben Affleck slams celebrities for using charity campaigns to promote themselves, according to Contact Music.

Ben made three trips to Africa over the last eight months for his own humanitarian mission in Africa's Democratic Republic of Congo.

He claims that many Hollywood celebs just do these things to seek publicity to help further their careers.”
Gabby Babble
Next Story / Reese Witherspoon Takes Some Me Time

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