2009 "Ante Up for Africa"

Add San Manuel to the list of players in the fight to save Sudan

By Fielding BuckPoker champ Annie Duke and actor Don Cheadle are bringing back the "Ante Up for Africa" tournament on Oct. 29 to San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino.

Their non-profit organization, also named Ante Up for Africa, has put on seven major events, Duke said Wednesday at the casino. Among them are on three big tournaments in Las Vegas, one in Monte Carlo, and a prior one at San Manuel in May 2008.

But Duke, who was in Highland with Cheadle to promote the event, said the San Manuel tournaments raise the most money, in part because the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians contributed $500,000 to the cause last year and will do so again for this month's tournament.

Ante Up for Africa has a mission to "raise money and awareness for Africans in need," specifically in Darfur, a region of Sudan ripped apart by what the U.S. State Department calls a "multi-party conflict."Comment:  For more on the subject, see The Facts About Indian Gaming.