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Victory: 1972 PGA Championship
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Celebrities, Pro Golfers, and Businessmen Raise Over $200,000 for Charity
Aug 03, 2007 | Filed Under: The Player Foundation
Over 100 personalities including celebrities, sports stars, philanthropists and corporate guests joined Gary Player in raising over $200,000 for disadvantaged children in South Africa and other poverty-stricken communities globally.
On Monday, July 30, 2007 over 100 personalities including celebrities, sports stars, philanthropists and corporate guests joined Gary Player in raising over $200,000 for disadvantaged children in South Africa and other poverty-stricken communities globally. The Player Foundation and MaAfrika Tikkun were the beneficiaries of the 15th annual Gary Player Invitational, a two-day event staged at the exclusive Wentworth Club outside London.
For over 20 years, the Gary Player Foundation has provided quality education, nutrition, medical care, transport and extra-curricular activities to children around the world. This year the foundation partnered with the award-winning South African charity MaAfrika Tikkun, who trains community caregivers to support vulnerable children in HIV-affected townships in Africa.
Celebrities attending this year’s event included TV and radio personalities Bruce Forsyth, Diana Stewart, DJ Spoony, as well as international sporting legends Brian Lara, Ian Wright, Will Greenwood, Sir Clive Woodward, Kenny Logan, Mark Bright, Tony Dorigo, Phil Babb and Jamie Redknapp. Joining Player in the professional field were fellow South Africans John Bland, Bobby Lincoln and Tony Johnstone.
After a witty welcome on Sunday by former rugby star turned master of ceremonies, Martin Bayfield, The Player Group unveiled the first edition of PLAYER Magazine. Guests received the first copies of the quarterly publication ‘hot off the press’ and engaged in an intimate Q & A session with Gary Player.
Thanking event sponsors and participants, Player said, “Golf is unique in its ability to bring like-minded individuals together to enjoy each other’s company and achieve good things by helping to raise much needed funds for the charities.”
Skies cleared and the sun showed up for the pro-celebrity golf tournament held on Monday, which was followed by an entertaining evening in the Grand Ballroom with former rugby star turned master of ceremonies Martin Bayfield. After dinner and a live musical performance, guests showed their generosity in an auction.
The most popular auction item - to support an orphan for a year through MaAfrika Tikkun’s Angels Programme - was taken over a dozen times. Said MaAfrika Tikkun UK Chairman Gary Lubner, “The children are the real winners and we are grateful that so many people helped make their future brighter.”
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