Poker pro Annie Duke and actor Don Cheadle will co-host a celebrity poker tournament on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at the San Manuel Indian casino in Highland, California, USA, to raise awareness and funds for the crisis in Darfur.

According to an announcement by the casino, the proceeds from the event will go to Not On Our Watch (NOOW), an organization founded by actors George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Cheadle to focus global attention and resources towards putting an end to mass atrocities around the world. The group has adopted the crisis in Darfur, Africa, as its inaugural campaign.

In addition to hosting the event, the casino announced it will donate $75,000 to NOOW to support its mission.

“We are thrilled to be joining forces with Annie Duke and Don Cheadle to support such a worthy cause,” said James Ramos, Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians, which runs the casino. “We hope our efforts will help draw mass attention to this very important issue that affects us all, and inspire others to get involved.”

According to the casino, the tournament will feature a number of prominent celebrities and poker professionals. The tourney will be a no-limit Texas hold’ em tourney, which is to begin at 6:30 p.m. and be an invitation-only event, limited to high-end players, poker professionals and celebrity poker enthusiasts.

In lieu of a cash prize, the winner of the tournament will receive a celebrity autographed custom poker table, courtesy of the casino, the casino announced.

“Poker is a great way of raising awareness,” said Duke. “We encourage anyone who wants to enjoy a very special evening with some of the biggest names in entertainment and gaming, while helping to ease the suffering of millions of Darfur refugees, to come out to San Manuel and support this wonderful cause.”

After the tournament, the poker pros and celebrities will join other VIPs at an exclusive after-party at the casino, the casino announced.

For more information about the event, visit San Manuel’s website at www.sanmanuel.com.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)