Poker players sometimes catch a bad rap for being involved with gambling. After all, the activity is not legal everywhere and the game is often associated with mobsters and con men. That’s why I always like to see professional poker players giving back to the community, showing the world that we’re completely legit. This Thursday Annie Duke will be giving back by hosting a charity event to support California Governor Schwarzenegger’s nonprofit youth group, After-School All-Stars.

Duke’s event is slated for 7:30 pm this Thursday at the Commerce Casino in LA. Celebrity guests including David Zayas, Don Cheadle, Trishelle Cannatella, Jennifer Elise Cox, Joshua Malina and Sara Rue are expected to attend, in addition to pro pro poker players Tiffany Michelle and Adam Levy. The celebs and poker pros will be competing for $35,000 in prizes. Of course, the prize money will all be donated to After-School All-Stars.

Duke feels very strongly about this organization. She says, “The children [After-School All-Stars] serves live in some of the most poverty-stricken areas in the country where their other options are gangs, drugs, or worse.” Duke really likes the fact that the program gives kids extra support with schoolwork and an alternative from the criminal lifestyle many of these at risk children are faced with. She says, “Poker players can be incredibly generous people, so it was a no-brainer for me that this event should happen.”