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Ben Affleck will live on $1.50 to support charity

Ben Affleck supports Live Below the Line by taking on the challenge of living on $1.50 per day, just as 1.4 billion people around the world must do every day.

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Danny Moloshok/Reuters/File
Director Ben Affleck holds his best picture award for his film 'Argo' at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in West Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 25. Affleck is among a number of celebrities who have pledged to eat and drink spending only $1.50 a day to publicize poverty around the world.

What's it like trying to survive on $1.50 a day? Ben Affleck and other celebrities are going to try it and tell their fans what it's like from first-hand experience.

Mr. Affleck will keep the cost of what he eats and drinks below $1.50 for at least one day to publicize and fund raise for Live Below the Line, an effort of The Global Poverty Project, according to a report from omg! at Yahoo.

The $1.50 figure is actually generous. People in extreme poverty around the world have to spend it not only on food but housing, transportation, and education – all of their needs. Donators are asked to try to live five days eating and drinking on only $1.50 per day and make a donation to the Live Below the Line cause.

So far this year, Live Below the Line has collected more than $159,000. A similar effort last year raised more than $3 million, according to Michael Trainer, the US Country Director of The Global Poverty Project.

"By living off just $1.50 per day for food for 5 days, you will be bringing to life the direct experiences of the 1.4 billion people currently living in extreme poverty and helping to make real change," the Live Below the Line website says.

"We are excited to announce that Ben Affleck will be joining us in the Live Below The Line USA challenge next week," the website adds. "Join Ben, Sophia Bush, Josh Groban, and thousands of others around the world as we raise attention and funds for some of the best charities out there in the fight against extreme poverty."

Affleck recently has added movie directing to his acting career. He directed "Argo," which won this year's Oscar as Best Picture.

• To make a contribute or to learn more go to www.livebelowtheline.com/us.

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