Look To The Stars News: Annie Duke

Stars Go All-In For Kids At Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Commerce Casino presents the 2011 “All-In” for Kids Celebrity Poker Tournament this weekend to raise money for The Alliance For Children’s Rights.

Celebrities expected to attend the tournament include Hank Azaria, Willie Garson, Kate Linder, Mimi Rogers and many others. Angie Harmon is a co-chair of the event, and the tournament committee also includes Annie Duke.

The “All-in” for Kids Celebrity Poker Tournament presents guests with an opportunity to play poker in the company of some of Los Angeles’ most influential entertainment and legal community members, poker players and celebrities.

Brad Garrett To Host Celebrity Charity Poker In Las Vegas

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Brad Garrett and Tropicana Las Vegas present the “All-In For All GOOD” Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament next month.

Among the stars scheduled to appear are Teri Hatcher, Ray Romano, Jason Alexander, Kevin Nealon, Susan Yeagley, Hank Azaria, Cheryl Hines, Annie Duke, Dennis Phillips, Cyndy Violette, Dany Georges, Larry Johnson and Jerry Tarkanian.

Annie Duke And Shannon Elizabeth Play Celebrity Charity Poker

Fri, 27 May 2011 12:30:00 +0000

On Tuesday, May 24 celebrities and poker stars came together to play in The H.O.M.E. Foundation’s Celebrity Casino Royale poker tournament, raising money and awareness for wonderful charities including spcaLA and the I’m Too Young For This Cancer Foundation.

Professional Poker Player, WSOP Winner, Author and “Celebrity Apprentice” star Annie Duke came out ready to play poker and raise money for charity. Celebrities battled against Annie Duke with the casino crowd cheering her on. Unfortunately, Annie Duke did not make it to the Final Table, getting outplayed by celebrities including Dancing with the Stars alumni Shannon Elizabeth and ABC’s “Off the Map” star Nicholas Gonzalez – both made it to the Final Table.

Annie Duke To Host Charity Poker For Life Rolls On

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Poker legend Annie Duke and Life Rolls On founder, Jesse Billauer, are set to host the 1st Annual “A Night of Poker” on May 7 in Gardena California to benefit Billauer’s Life Rolls On Foundation.

Life Rolls On, a subsidiary of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, was founded in 1996 by Jesse Billauer. On the verge of becoming a professional surfer, Billauer suffered a spinal cord injury while surfing and was rendered a quadriplegic, Jesse’s spirit was not broken, and the phrase “Life Rolls On” was born.

Today, LRO remains dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to inspire infinite possibilities despite paralysis.

Stars Raise Their Hands for Africa

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Steve Martin, Don Cheadle and Jordin Sparks are set to raise some funds while raising the stakes at the first annual Texas Hold’em poker tournament “Raise Your Hand for Africa”.

Stars from the gridiron, poker world, Hollywood and the music industry will put their cards on the table February 18 and 19, 2011 at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

Benefitting from the tournament are PROS FOR AFRICA, a non-profit relief organization providing basic needs to the children of Africa and Starkey Hearing Foundation, which is dedicated to building better lives for the hearing impaired by providing hearing instruments to those in need. This inaugural event will fund combined African missions by both organizations.

Jennifer Harman To Host Fifth Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:30:00 +0000

On Saturday, May 21st, Peppermill Resort Casino will host the fifth annual Jennifer Harman Celebrity Poker Tournament (JHCPT) benefiting the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Nevada SPCA) No-Kill Shelter.

The JHCPT will take place in conjunction with the Nevada State Poker Championship, and will be included in Heartland Poker Tour’s (HPT) fall line-up of televised programming available in over 100 million homes across America.

NASCAR Driver To Host Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Champion NASCAR driver Taylor Barton has teamed up with Full Tilt Poker to host a celebrity poker tournament for charity.

The tournament – which will be held at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on December 4 – will benefit the Taylor Barton Foundation, which focuses on stopping bullying in America’s schools, as well as Children Mending Hearts, which assists homeless and at-risk youth around the world.

Taylor has invited some of his fellow NASCAR drivers and celebrity friends to join him for the kick-off event which will also host many of the Full Tilt Poker Pros and others such as Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Annie Duke, Pawn Stars, Randy Couture and more scheduled to attend.

NBA Star To Host Celebrity Charity Poker

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

More than a dozen celebrities, athletes and poker pros will appear and are expected to join former UNLV Rebel Shawn Marion to raise public awareness and funds to support single moms, at the 1st annual Shawn Marion Foundation Celebrity Poker tournament.   Founded by NBA All-Star Shawn Marion in 2008, the Shawn Marion Foundation Celebrity Poker tournament will begin at 12 p.m. July 24th at the Palms Casino Resort.

  "It is exciting to bring the world of poker and entertainment together while raising awareness to help single parents," said All-Star Shawn Marion. “I know what it feels like to have nothing. My mom is a wonderful and strong woman who worked two jobs for a long time to put food on the table to feed us and my mission is to help other single parents in the same predicament.”  

 Among those confirmed to participate, subject to availability, are Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat), Mekhi Phifer (Fox’s Lie To Me), Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), Lance Gross (TBS Tyler Perry’s House of Payne), Shanna Moakler (MTV’s Meet The Barker’s), Jill Marie Jones (Girlfriends), Natasha Alam (HBO’s True Blood), Claudia Jordan (NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice), Bob Guiney (The Bachelor), Brian White (Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself), Denyce Lawton (TBS Tyler Perry’s House of Payne), Elise Neal (Love Ranch), with many more expressing their interest to play. Also playing, subject to availability, will be poker professionals Annie Duke (NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice), David Williams (WPT 2010 Champion), Tiffany Michelle (CBS’s Amazing Race), Trishelle Cannatella (MTV’s The Real World), Maria Ho (CBS’s Amazing Race), Joe Reitman and many others.

Annie Duke And Brad Garrett Take A Gamble On Charity

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The evening of May 20th brought together Annie Duke, Brad Garrett, and more than 20 other celebrities and champion poker players to raise funds for After-School All-Stars (ASAS), – Arnold Schwarzenegger’s after-school nonprofit.

Hosted by Duke and sponsored by UB.net and the Poker Players Alliance, over 110 poker fans, celebrities, and ASAS donors attended the Los Angeles Commerce Casino event to support after-school programs for at-risk youth and compete for the grand prize – a seat to the 2010 World Series of Poker Tournament. Renowned stars and poker celebrities included Kirk Acevedo (Fringe), David Zayas (Dexter), Sara Rue (Popular), Adam “Roothlus” Levy (poker player), Joshua Molina (The West Wing), Shanna Moakler (Meet the Barkers), and Rafe Furst (poker player). By the end of the evening, the Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night raised almost $50,000 ASAS.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck To Play Ante Up For Africa Charity Poker

Tue, 18 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Many would love the opportunity to play poker with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and the most skilled poker professionals. Now you can.

The 2010 Ante Up For Africa Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament on Saturday, July 3 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas offers a special opportunity as the only event of its kind where the general public can participate.

Don Cheadle To Be Named United Nations Ambassador In Rwanda

Mon, 10 May 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Don Cheadle is set to become a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment next month.

“I will be named officially in Rwanda on June 5th, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environmental Programme,” he said. “I’ll be in Rwanda on June 5th.”

The UNEP provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Annie Duke To Lead Celebrity Poker For Governor Scwarzenegger

Wed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

A seat to the 2010 World Series of Poker Tournament and a personal Segway is up for grabs at Annie Duke’s next charity poker tournament.

In support of After-School All-Stars, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s after-school nonprofit for at-risk youth, Duke is hosting a celebrity-filled tournament on May 20th, 7:30 pm, at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, California.

Special guests include Don Cheadle (Iron Man 2), David Zayas (Dexter), Sara Rue (Eastwick), and many more. With Ultimate Bet headlining sponsorship of the event and dozens of product sponsors, players will be playing for nearly $35,000 in prizes and bidding on $20,000 in silent auction items. Entries for the tournament are $250 per player with $100 re-buys and $75 for non-players, all proceeds going to After-School All-Stars.

Poker Stars Play For Charity

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

This week, Capitol Hill lawmakers hobnobbed with poker stars and took part in a charity poker tournament in Washington DC to benefit Ante Up For Africa.

Organized by the Poker Players Alliance and poker siblings Annie Duke and Howard “The Professor” Lederer, the event raised a total of $70,000, with Full Tilt Poker donating a $10 000 seat at this year’s World Series of Poker main event as the big prize. 

Also this week, poker star Phil Hellmuth hosted his first celebrity charity poker event in Oakland California as part of the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae.

Ante Up For Africa To Hit Las Vegas Tomorrow

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Ante Up For Africa will support Refugees International’s efforts for the displaced people of Darfur and all of Sudan as part of its charity celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas on July 2, 2009.

The event is hosted by WSOP Bracelet Winner and Celebrity Apprentice Star Annie Duke and Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle, with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Brad Garrett planning to attend. Professional poker players and Refugees International supporters Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, and Phil Hellmuth will also be participating.

“We are grateful to Ante Up For Africa for shining a spotlight on the ongoing crisis in Darfur and generating such significant support for the people who have been forced from their homes by this conflict,” said Ken Bacon, President of Refugees International. “An event like this makes it possible for Refugees International to continue to demand action from the world’s leaders to provide basic assistance and protection to refugees in Sudan and around the world.”

Affleck, Damon and More To Ante Up For Africa

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Garrett, Mekhi Phifer, and top poker professional Phil Hellmuth have joined the growing list of celebrities who plan to play in the Ante Up For Africa charity tournament July 2 at the 40th annual World Series of Poker.

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are expected to go all in for the 3rd Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) Celebrity-Charity poker tournament.

Annie Duke To Join Joan Rivers Impersonators For Charity Poker

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Fans of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice may need to do a double take on May 27th after seeing Annie Duke join forces with archrival Joan Rivers at a charity poker tournament in Las Vegas… well, kind of.

Leading online poker site UltimateBet.net has announced the sponsorship of the Sucking out on the Rivers charity poker tournament in support of Refugees International. UltimateBet.net’s own Annie Duke will be hosting the event alongside Frank Marino, a well-known Joan Rivers impersonator, and nearly all of the top poker pros in Vegas are already on board to play in the charity tournament.

“I think that after this poker tournament, the real Joan Rivers will quickly realize that poker players are good-natured people – professional people with respected occupations and families – who really want to change the lives of those less fortunate,” stated Annie Duke. “As poker players, we’re all banding together, not just to prove a point to Joan, but to actually change the world.”

Kim Kardashian Hosts Charity Poker In The Playboy Mansion

Fri, 01 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

On Saturday, July 11, the Playboy Mansion and the Kardashians will host the ‘Aces & Angels Celebrity Poker Tournament’ to benefit Aces and Angels, an organization which raises money for families of Southern California firefighters who were either injured or killed in the line of duty.

Kim Kardashian will host the event alongside sisters Khloe and Kourtney, and their mother Kris, as dozens of Playboy bunnies, playmates, top models, Hollywood celebrities, and the poker stars attend the highly anticipated event being held at the Playboy Mansion.

The event, which is being emceed by 11-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, has already received RSVP’s from: Nicole Richie, Jayde Nicole (2008 Playmate of the Year), Sara Jean Underwood (2007 Playmate of the Year), the Ikki twins (featured in Playboy and MTV’s Double Shot at Love), actress Shannon Elizabeth, recording artist Ryan Cabrera, Jerri Manthey (of Survivor and Playboy fame), retired baseball player Jose Canseco, and poker professionals Jamie Gold, Annie Duke, Greg Raymer, Nenad Medic, Isabelle Mercier, Marcel Luske, Gavin Smith, David Williams and Steve Dannenmann.

Jason Alexander To Host Charity Poker

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Jason Alexander will be hosting a Texas Hold-Em Poker Tournement on May 9 at the Hollywood Park Casino with proceeds going to charity.

Alexander will be joined by celebrities and Dianna Donofrio-Trigatzi (Celebrity Guest Tournament Director and Nevada State Director of the Poker Players Alliance), and Special Honoree, Leyna Nguyen (KCBS/KCAL Anchor), and poker stars such as Greg Raymer, Jamie Gold, and Chip Jett.

Cards hit the felt at 2:00 PM on May 9, with each hand representing a strong step towards ending domestic violence and helping youth who have been abused and abandoned. All proceeds from this tournament will go towards benefiting 1736 Family Crisis Center, Los Angeles’ largest domestic violence agency for the last 36 years.

Annie Duke Blogs About Celebrity Apprentice 2

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Poker star Annie Duke is currently appearing on Celebrity Apprentice 2 to raise money for Refugees International, and she is blogging about her experiences.

Every week Duke writes about what goes on behind the scenes of the show, which sees celebrities such as Dennis Rodman, Brian McKnight, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Clint Black, Tom Green, Khloe Kardashian and many others raising money for charities such as the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, the Lili Claire Foundation and StandUp For Kids.

As well as writing about the show, Duke is also guest blogger for Refugees International.

Celebrity Apprentice 2 To Feature Annie Duke

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:30:00 +0000

NBC will aim to repeat the success that was Celebrity Apprentice when a new series of the show premieres in January 2009.

Although most of the contestants cannot be named or have yet to commit, professional poker player Annie Duke confirmed her involvement during the weekend.

According to a statement made on www.ultimatebet.com on Friday, ""Annie Duke wasn’t able to attend… the Aruba Poker Classic because, as you may have heard, she was selected to be on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice this season. She had to fly to L.A. for the premiere party and she’ll be competing for the Ante Up for Africa charity. Annie and Donald Trump in the same boardroom… that should make for some interesting TV."

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.

Celebrities To Raise Stakes For Africa Again

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

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.

Montel Williams To Play Poker For Multiple Sclerosis

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:52:07 +0000

After reading our recent Montel Williams article, Look To The Stars reader Dan Ciranny wrote in to tell us something our readers can do today to make a real difference in the lives of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS):

First of all, let me tell you about MS, because I admit I never really understood what it was about.

Multiple Sclerosis leads its victims down a long decline in every vital system of the body. It attacks systems in the body randomly by deteriorating the protective sheaths of the nerve connections that send signals to that part of the body.

Stars Raise The Stakes For Darfur

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

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).”

Ashton Kutcher Wins Poker Lesson

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 14:53:34 +0000

Upset over the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina, Ashton Kutcher bid $14,000 in a celebrity auction for a poker lesson from top player Annie Duke. The auction, which took place in October, was donating all of its proceeds to ongoing relief efforts.