Successful 2018 Berenberg Gary Player Invitational continues the global quest to raise $100m for charity
-London event at Wentworth raises just over $100,000 for good causes-
-Major winners join Gary Player for annual ‘Golf & Giving’ tournament-
Global golf icons, major championship winners, stars of the modern game and some of the sport’s hottest young talents have joined Gary Player at Wentworth to raise almost $105,000 for good causes during the London leg of his world-leading Invitational Series.
In a quest to raise $100 million for underprivileged education, title sponsor Berenberg, the private investment bank, and Black Knight International united some of the biggest names in golf, under the banner of ‘A Union of Golf & Giving’, for the annual Berenberg Gary Player Invitational.
Played on the Gary Player-designed Edinburgh Course at Wentworth, Surrey, participants joining Mr. Player included fellow Berenberg Golf Ambassadors, Tom Watson, Martin Kaymer, Branden Grace, Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara and Georgia Hall.
The star-studded field also included six other Major winners, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Charl Schwartzel, Trevor Immelman, Tom Lehman and Hale Irwin.
“This year’s London event has been very special for me, especially as it directly followed The Open at Carnoustie, where I had visited earlier in the week, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of my victory in 1968.
“The important funds raised at 
Wentworth will undoubtedly help make a difference to many young lives through our chosen charity, Depaul. I thank all our sponsors and our guests for playing their part in another successful and very enjoyable event,” said the 18-time Major winner, philanthropist and tournament host, Gary Player.
It was the team led by Masters champion, Trevor Immelman, and rising Ladies European Tour star, Annabel Dimmock, who won the 2018 title and claimed overall victory on the day and the beautiful Baobab Trophy.
The day culminated in a black-tie dinner and auction, where guests bid on a selection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that included VIP trips to The Ryder C
up, Wimbledon and The Masters next April.
Dr. Hans-Walter Peters, Managing Partner at Berenberg, commented: “It was a pleasure to join our team of Golf Ambassadors to once again support Gary in his ongoing quest to raise phenomenal amounts of money for worthwhile global causes. Berenberg is proud to be associated with this event, and its sister tournament in the New York and, in turn, help so many young people improve their lives.”
Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International and founder of The Player Foundation, concluded: “Our sponsors play such a significant part in the ongoing success of these events and without their support we would not be able to create these globally-important charitable events that continue to change lives around the world.”
In addition to the United Kingdom, annual events are staged by Black Knight International in Abu Dhabi, Japan, USA, China and South Africa.
Ends
Press Release issued on behalf of Black Knight International, by Landmark Golf Marketing & Communications
For media enquiries contact:
Manuela Whittaker – Landmark Golf Marketing & Communications
T: +44 (0) 1780 752790
Jade Lotriet – Black Knight International
T: +27 21 448 7777
Bo Wood – Black Knight International b.wood@garyplayer.com
T: +1 864 477 2720
——————————-
Notes for Editors
THE PLAYER FOUNDATION
The Player Foundation was established in 1985 by Marc Player. What began as an effort to provide education, nutrition, medical care and athletic activities, for a small community of disadvantaged children living on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa has now blossomed into an organization that circles the globe bringing aid to underprivileged children and impoverished communities.
The Foundation is funded primarily by six Gary Player Invitational events presented through Black Knight International. Pairing celebrities and professional golfers from
the PGA and Champions Tours with businessmen and international sports figures, the annual tournaments are staged in the Abu Dhabi, United States, Japan, China, United Kingdom and South Africa. The proceeds of these tournaments and other special events provide funding for an ever-expanding number of institutions around the world, including the Blair Atholl Schools in South Africa, the Pleasant City Elementary School in Palm Beach, the Masizame in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, and AIDS infected children in Baoshan, a drug-infested city located on the China-Burma border. Since its establishment, The Player Foundation has donated more than $64 million to the support of children’s charities, the betterment of impoverished communities and the expansion of educational opportunities throughout the world.
The Gary Player Foundation is a non-profit 501 C (3) organization managed by Black Knight International in Palm Beach, Florida.
BLACK KNIGHT INTERNATIONAL
Established in 1983 by Marc Player, Black Knight International is a global holding company for The Player Group and the constantly expanding family of Gary Player® brands. With a powerful presence in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Black Knight is a multicultural and multilingual company offering branded services for the leisure and real estate industries. This rapidly growing firm is diverse and infused with the same tenaciousness and drive as Gary Player, world-renowned iconic golfer. The holding company divisions include: Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, Black Knight Enterprises, Black Knight Solutions, Black Knight Capital, Gary Player Academies, and The Player Foundation.
Berenberg
Berenberg was established in 1590 and today is one of Europe’s leading privately owned banks. With headquarters in Hamburg and strong presences in Frankfurt, London, New York and Zurich the bank works from offices across Europe and America. Berenberg delivers its expertise through four divisions – Wealth Management, Asset Management, Investment Banking and Corporate Banking.
Berenberg is led by Managing Partners who are fully responsible for the bank. In its 428 year history there have been only 38 of them. In the last ten years, Berenberg doubled its staff to 1,600 professionals to deliver a modern and efficient service, while maintaining a firm connection with its heritage and traditions. “We are proud to call Gary Player our Brand Ambassador, as he is truly a great Ambassador for the game of golf,” says Hendrik Riehmer, Managing Partner of Berenberg. “This must be measured not just in terms of his career achievements as a Grand Slam Champion, but also in driving such outstanding philanthropic initiatives as the Gary Player Invitational series. The event’s great virtues and its ability to give so much back to charity is one of the many reasons we have chosen this sponsorship as an important business platform for years to come.”
BERENBERG AND GPI RELATIONSHIP
Berenberg staged the first European Senior Tour tournament in South Africa 2010 and since that time a deep relationship between Mr. Player and Berenberg has developed. Gary Player is one of many brand ambassadors of Berenberg in golf, besides Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie, Martin Kaymer, Branden Grace, Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Mark O’Meara and Georgia Hall.
DEPAUL UK
Depaul UK helps young people who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged.
* It protects young people by finding them a place to call home. * It prevents young people becoming homeless by rebuilding family relationships and offering through-the-gate support to young offenders.
* It provides young people with opportunities through skills development and support to help them progress beyond homelessness and fulfil their potential.
Depaul is based around the UK working with young people to tackle homelessness at every level. The Nightstop UK service also offers emergency short term accommodation in the homes of local volunteers on a night by night basis.
Depaul UK has helped over 50,000 people since it was founded in 1989 and continues to work with over 3,000 young people a year, providing over 120,000 bed nights to those who are vulnerable and in need.
The Gary Player Invitational at Wentworth has helped to provide emergency accommodation for young people facing the night sleeping rough through Depaul’s Nightstop London scheme. These funds have helped support more than 300 vulnerable young homeless people living for up to two years within Depaul’s supported hostels in London.
Depaul’s London hostels help young people to break the cycle of homelessness and overcome the challenges they face by providing a number of support services, including:
* A safe private room in supported staffed accommodation
* Full-time key workers to help young people tackle the problems they face and plan for stable futures
* Money management support and training to help young people to budget, overcome debt, and plan for the future
* Employability support and training to build young people’s skills and help them into employment
* Health, life-skills and tenancy support
* Family mediation to help young people reconnect with their families and rebuild relationships where possible
95% of young people living within Depaul hostels experience a positive move-on when they leave Depaul.
