PokerStars To Aid Charity - Ante Up For Africa

"Ante Up for Africa" could have a powerful new ally as 'Stars expands fundraising scope to Europe

The "Ante Up for Africa" charity fundraising poker tournaments started in the United States will see increased exposure in Europe this year, thanks to a new initiative by the online poker giant PokerStars.com.

When the fifth season of the PokerStars-sponsored European Poker Tour holds its Grand Final in Monte Carlo later this (April) month it will be preceded by the first run of the charity fundraiser in Europe.

Ante Up for Africa is a charitable foundation started by actor Don Cheadle and poker celeb Annie Duke which has achieved laudable fundraising at major poker events like the World Series of Poker in the past. Funds raised by poker aces and Hollywood celebrities playing poker are donated to the humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of ordinary men, women and children caught up in the war-torn African nation of Darfur, which continues to suffer from ethnic cleansing, poverty, and the starvation of its citizens.

Initial PokerStars plans are that Team PokerStars Pro members Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem, and Vanessa Rousso will compete in the Euro 4 000 buy in NLHE tournament with the proceeds going to the charity. The location of the event and the draw of the EPT final is expected to attract many other skilled and influential players. Instead of a cash prize for the winner, PokerStars will be awarding a special prize package to its flagship EPT event in the Bahamas, the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, in January of 2010.

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