When Don Cheadle (starred in “Hotel Rwanda”) travelled to
the Darfur region of Sudan in 2005 according to a CNN report (Los Angeles, California) what he experienced was more than he’d bargained
for. It was the aftermath
of an ethnic killing that pushed his decision to turn the rewards of his game.

Ante Up For Africa Tournament

Tens of Thousands had been butchered and as if that weren’t bad enough, the genocide  (fatality rate)was actually put to shame by the headcount thus stranded on the streets. Nevertheless, it inspired him to found Ante Up. It was a result of what his experience in Africa had inspired him to do; an intense desire to help: by playing Poker.

He was not alone, at least in founding Ante Up For Africa (2006). Along with Annie Duke and Norman Epstein he proposed raising between $20,000 and $30,000 (and awareness) through a voluntary benefits event. He hoped it would help bring peace to the region. His sublime intentions turned in $700,000 right on the First day. What’s more, together with Duke Cheadle raised $2.5 million for Darfur over the last few years with celebrity poker tournaments.

"I think there's a variety of ways to do that that are effective, but I'm not sure anything is more effective than a poker tournament, because people come and they can genuinely hang out with celebrities and some of the famous poker players, and just have a really fantastic time while they're giving" Duke said. She believed that value for time poised no lower or higher than generosity, citing that “to beat a movie star or a pro athlete at cards is a better tool than 'boring speeches' at a rubber-chicken dinner”. It’s also hard to miss that everyone has such fun while doing it.

Both affairs, the ethnic killings and the up-market event; one of which that had been such a bloody site of such bloodshed, a source for such unkempt sorrow, and worse; while the other -laughing faces and the very idea of poverty immaterial to participants' worst imagination whatsoever, had nothing in common. Yet the latter was “dead” committed to express their love to the other.

Through Poker.

                                                                                                                                                                      Written by Singham