Affleck, Damon, Cheadle Ante Up for Darfur

Actors play Texas Hold 'em to benefit Darfur charities at the World Series of Poker in Vegas

By Natalie Finn Jul 03, 2008 3:55 AMTags
Jason Alexander, Matt Damon, Ben AffleckAP Photo/Isaac Brekken

Everyone was all in for a good cause.

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle were among the Hollywood types who gathered Wednesday at the Rio Pavilion in Las Vegas for a no-limit Texas Hold' em tournament benefiting victims of the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Also forking over the $5,000 entrance fee were Adam Sandler, George Lopez, Ray Romano and Jason Alexander, who optimistically said, "When there's no actual money for me, I'm very good."

This was the second annual Ante Up for Africa event, an idea cooked up last year by Cheadle and professional card player Annie Duke in conjunction with the World Series of Poker. More than $850,000 was raised in 2007.

Tournament proceeds are going to Not on Our Watch—the advocacy and aid group started last year by Cheadle, Damon, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and producer Jerry Weintraub—and ENOUGH, a joint initiative of the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress that's working to end civil conflicts in Darfur, Uganda and Congo.

"It's just great to see everybody," Cheadle said as the first hand (which Alexander won, of course) was dealt. "Don't expect to win, because it's mine."