Poker News

Former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Brad Garrett will attend the upcoming charity poker tournament hosted by UB.com pro Annie Duke benefiting After School All-Stars. The $250 buy-in, $100 rebuy event will play out on May 20th from the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

A bevy of superstars will attend, including Full Tilt Poker pro and Ante Up for Africa co-founder Don Cheadle. The actor, who can currently be seen in the blockbuster hit “Iron Man 2,” lends his name to very few charities outside of Ante Up for Africa, making his presence at the After School All-Stars event unique. Newly announced is Garrett, who is a regular in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas.

Absolute Poker pro and former “Real World: Las Vegas” bad girl Trishelle Cannatella will also be in attendance. Fellow CEREUS Network site UB.com will be giving away a $10,000 WSOP Main Event seat to the tournament’s winner. Also doled out will be a Segway personal transporter and everyone who makes the final table will take home a pair of headphones, a subscription to Poker Pro Magazine, and personal training. A total of $35,000 in prizes will be up for grabs at the final table.

Duke told Poker News Daily why After School All-Stars is a charity that’s near and dear to her heart: “There are certain things that are disastrous in this country. One of these is that you put kids in school and then send them home, where your best hope is that they’re watching TV. This program allows them to see what their alternatives are. After School All-Stars shows them that there are alternatives to what they think.” The organization services 78,000 kids in 13 cities.

In recent weeks, charity poker tournaments have been held en masse. Duke explained how she balances her time and energy in various fundraising endeavors: “I’m very selective about who I ask. I try to pick things that either would be important to my friends or me. I feel like I want to do a good job with this one. What After School All-Stars does is incredibly important.”

Other celebrities and poker pros who will make their way to the Commerce Casino for the tournament’s 7:30pm start time are “Poker After Dark” host Ali Nejad, Bravo personality Brian Peeler, UB.com pro Adam “Roothlus” Levy, pro wrestler Stacy Keibler, poker pro Karina Jett, Beverly Hills mayor Jimmy Delshad, World Team Poker founder Robert Turner, and “Dexter” actor David Zayas. The tournament’s sponsors include UB.com and the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).

In other news out of Duke’s camp, the runner-up in the second cycle of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” was invited to the finale of its third season. Duke emphatically told NBC producers no. She admitted, “On second thought, though, if [show host] Donald Trump makes a donation to Ante Up for Africa, I’d do it. I don’t feel any need to go on that show. I don’t think it went well for me in the end and didn’t feel like I needed to go and sit next to Joan Rivers. However, I think there needs to be a make-right with Ante Up for Africa. Had I won, they would have gotten a big donation.”

At the time of writing, NBC had not yet responded to Duke’s request for a charity donation in exchange for her presence at the finale, which will air on May 23rd. Five “Celebrity Apprentice” candidates currently remain: celebrity chef Curtis Stone, rocker Bret Michaels, talent agent Sharon Osbourne, actress Holly Robinson Peete, and former WWE diva Maria Kanellis. Rivers, who defeated Duke in the finale, will appear on tomorrow’s episode interviewing the final five.

Visit the official website of After School All-Stars for full details.

One Comment

  1. Dianna Donofrfio-Trigatzi says:

    Annie Duke is remarkable for opening her heart and talent in supporting the
    After-School All-Stars Poker Charity event on May 20 at the Commerce Casino. Thanks Annie for all you do for so many. It has been a privilege working and honor working with you to help this great organization.

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