If you love playing “Words with Friends” then you just might enjoy doing so for charity. Today, you’ll find celebrities like Edward Norton, Jonah Hill and Snoop Dogg enjoying Zynga’s word-building game online.
As Travis Boatman, senior vice president of mobile at Zynga Inc. explained, “We had the idea to do a celebrity tournament some time ago when it became apparent that the game was a hit among celebrities. It seems like everyone from Katie Couric to Snoop Lion is into the game. It’s really inspirational for the team to see how ‘Words With Friends’ has become part of the cultural mainstream, and I think it has struck a chord because it’s not just a game, it’s a way for people to connect and keep in touch with each other.”
Norton will be playing for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund and will be competing against such celebrities as Eva Longoria, Kristen Bell and John Legend. They are each going to be aiming for the $500,000 in prize money given by American Express.
Regular people can join in the fun with the celebrities, playing with their favorite star’s team during the competition called the “Words With Friends Celebrity Challenge.”