Look To The Stars News: Ray Romano

The Chips Are Up For Africa

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

The Second Annual ‘Ante Up for Africa’ poker tournament was held on July 2nd in Las Vegas, and drew an impressive field of poker pro’s, celebrities and athletes – all of who helped make the event a success by raising over $400,000 for charity.

The event, co-hosted by humanitarian/actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, is already having a positive impact in Darfur – notably in reference to a UN Security Council vote authorizing a peacekeeping force in the area. “It wouldn’t have taken place [without us],” said Cheadle.

“It’s just great to see everybody,” Cheadle said as the event began.

The mood was comical at some tables,”All the tournaments I’ve ever won have been for charity,“ said actor Jason Alexander. “When there’s no actual money for me, I’m very good.”

Adam Sandler cracked his first joke as the first hand was dealt, “I just want to hurry up and lose my money and go home to my wife.”

Matt Damon busted out of the tournament early, while seasoned poker pal Ben Affleck made it all the way to the final table before losing to John Hennigan.

Affleck said he remains optimistic about the situation in Darfur, “I do think that [Sudan’s leaders] are afraid of the next administration being tougher, and are probably a little bit more willing to be more cooperative. But I’m optimistic about what’s going to happen.”

Other celebrities who kicked in the $5k for a spot at the felt included Charles Barkley, Jennifer Tilly, Shannon Elizabeth, Ray Romano, Casey Affleck, and poker pro Phil Helmuth among others.

The tournament benefited two charities: ENOUGH, a project co-founded in 2007 by the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress; and Not On Our Watch (NOOW), a group co-founded by Cheadle, Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

Celebrities To Raise Stakes For Africa Again

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The 2008 ‘Ante Up For Africa’ Poker Tournament at the World Series of Poker will be held on July 2 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The tournament is the brainchild of actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, who created the event to raise money and awareness for the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan.

“After the success of last year’s tournament, we are looking forward to another exciting year while raising awareness for an ongoing crisis,” Duke said. “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.”

Last year’s inaugural event raised more than $700,000, thanks in part to the stellar list of celebrities, athletes, and poker professionals who participated.

Confirmed to participate in this year’s event are Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Kevin Pollack, Cheryl Hines, George Lopez, Joe Trohman from Fall Out Boy, and more.

“The poker community has a unique opportunity to help ease the suffering in Darfur,” said Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP commissioner. “The stars are coming out for this special event once again and we encourage everyone to register early before we sell out.”

Two charities will benefit form this year’s Ante Up For Africa showdown – the ENOUGH Project and Not On Our Watch.

ENOUGH is joint initiative of the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress, which aims to end crimes against humanity in Darfur, Northern Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The organization also hopes to prevent future mass atrocities around the world.

Not On Our Watch, which was founded by George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, strives to focus global attention and resources on putting an end to mass atrocities around the world. It takes its name from the book authored by Cheadle and John Prendergast, and draws on the voices of celebrities, cultural leaders and activists to help bring the crisis to the public’s attention and generate humanitarian assistance for the nation.

The tournament is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on July 2.

NBA Star Charles Barkley Donates to Fire Victims

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:05:02 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Last July, former NBA player Charles Barkley took a time out from the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament to check out the damage caused by a fire that swept through South Lake Tahoe. After seeing the fire’s devastation, Barkley donated $25,000 and also promised to send a generous donation to support the fire victims. And this week, as promised, the 11-Time NBA ALL Star sent the Community Disaster Resource Center (CDRC) for Angora fire victims a check for $100,000.

“This additional aid is coming at a time when the plight of the survivors has passed from many minds, and the need is greater than ever,” said CDRC Board Chairman Dick Schwarte. “There are so many families in the throes of trying to rebuild their lives so that they can stay here in South Lake, and these additional funds will enable us to assist those individuals in response to their requests.”

The Angora Fire was a wind-driven fire that started near a North Upper Truckee Road subdivision near Angora Lakes, Fallen Leaf Lake, and South Lake Tahoe in California around 2:15 PM on Sunday, June 24, 2007. The devastating fire destroyed 254 homes, displaced 3,500 residents, and caused more than $160 million in damages.

“This is unbelievable,” Barkley said after touring the area with an NBC Sports film crew. “I really want to let people know that this is really unfortunate. It’s going to take years for everybody to rebuild their houses here. If we stay over there at the golf and casino, we’re not going to think anything is going on here. That’s why I wanted to come here with a camera. When you live in different parts of the country and they show you two houses burned down, you don’t get the full effect. We need to do something like this every year we come here … to show the progress.”

In February, Barkley toured the hurricane-ravished areas in New Orleans. “That hurricane could have hit last week, that’s how bad it was. Houses were all watered out and streets were nothing but mud everywhere, and that was two years later,” said Barkley, who donated a whopping $1 million to help New Orleans residents recover.

Angora fire victims still needing assistance should contact Carrie Reiter at the CDRC to complete an application. For additional information on registering for help or assisting, call (530) 542-4656. OR to make a donation to the fire victims, please visit Help Tahoe for more info.

And don’t forget Lake Tahoe’s annual celebrity golf event that will benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and feature 78 entertainment and sports superstars. It takes place on July 8-13, 2008, at the Edgewood Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe. This year’s field includes Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, Dennis Miller, Ray Romano, Mario Lemieux, Dan Marino, LaDainian Tomlinson, John Elway, and Jerry Rice. First timers include NASCAR superstar Dale Jarrett, actor Aidan Quinn, skateboarding icon and babe magnet Ryan Sheckler, sports announcer Joe Buck, baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, and 11-time national sports writer-of-the-year Rick Reilly

More information can be found at www.tahoecelebritygolf.com.

Stars Raise The Stakes For Darfur

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:44:33 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Las Vegas is to host a star-studded poker tournament on July 5 to raise much needed aid for the current humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

The Ante Up For Africa event will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, and will see “Ocean’s 13” stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon compete in the high stakes world of Texas Hold ‘Em against a host of other celebrities.

The event has been organised by actor Don Cheadle and professional poker player Annie Duke, and will coincide with the annual World Series of Poker. The pair hope the event will generate funds to help the “millions of people who must roll the dice every day in their struggle to survive (in Darfur).”

The Ocean’s 13 actors are expected to join fellow celebrities Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, George Lopez, Willie Garson and many others in the all-night tournament. There is also the opportunity for non-celebrities to pitch their skills against the stars, as anyone over the age of 21 can enter the tournament for a $5000 “buy-in”.

“While a donation is not required to enter,” said Duke in a recent press release, “we are respectfully asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to the ENOUGH Project and the International Rescue Committee – organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur.”

Don Cheadle, an accomplished poker player himself, is co-author of Not On Our Watch, a book about the crisis in Darfur, and co-founder of the non-profit organization of the same name. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film “Hotel Rwanda”, which tells the story of the government-sanctioned slaughter of more than a million people in Rwanda in 1994, and has spent the last two years heavily involved in humanitarian causes.

Comic Relief Brings Laughter to New Orleans

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:12:33 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams are back to host the 20th Anniversary of the US Comic Relief event this Saturday, November 19th. After an eight-year hiatus, the beloved event has returned to raise funds for New Orleans and the people still suffering from the effects of last year’s hurricane. Comedians such as Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Ray Romano and Roseanne Barr have joined the cause.

The show will take place at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas as part of The Comedy Festival, with tickets starting at $95. For those unable to attend in person, the three-hour concert will appear simultaneously on HBO and TBS from 9pm to Midnight EST.

This year a special Comic Relief concert has been scheduled in New Orleans to coincide with the regular Las Vegas show. The event will be held at Harrah’s Fulton Street promenade and is free to the public. Wayne Brady is the host of this show, and he will be joined by entertainers such as Louie Anderson and Tom Arnold.

Since 1986, Comic Relief has raised more than $50 million, with 100% of the proceeds going to programs such as aiding the homeless and helping victims of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Much of this year’s proceeds will go to a local non-profit group which is rebuilding New Orleans’ traditional narrow, rectangular houses for low-income families.

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