Check presentations held in Old Town La Quinta, featuring 2010 Classic ambassador, baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, actor Bill Devane, comedian Tom Dreesen, La Quinta Mayor Don Adolph
LA QUINTA, Calif. – Representatives of the Bob Hope Classic Monday distributed $1.538 million in charitable proceeds from the 2009 Classic to Eisenhower Medical Center and 36 other charities.
Charities receiving funds included 14 that provide structured programs for children, 10 that provide rehab, social and support services for those suffering from a variety of health conditions, 12 that provide food and/or shelter for the hungry, homeless and abused, and Eisenhower Medical Center.
The public check distribution ceremony was conducted Monday morning near the Bob Hope Classic Store at Main Street in Old Town La Quinta. La Quinta Mayor Don Adolph, Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, actor William Devane, comedian Tom Dreesen and funds distribution chairman Jim Reed participated.
“If ever there was a year in which our charitable contributions could help, this is certainly the one,” said Classic President John Foster. “We are very pleased to be able to continue to extend our helping hand this year.”
A desert tradition since 1960, with this year’s donations, the Classic has contributed nearly $49 million to charity. The 51st Bob Hope Classic will be held Jan. 18-24 at La Quinta Country Club, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST and Arnold Palmer Private at PGA WEST and SilverRock Resort.
“The Classic’s mission is to support the many charities doing extraordinary work in the Coachella Valley,” Foster said. “An event like this only strengthens the efforts of our volunteers, sponsors and tournament staff throughout the year.”
Local charities benefiting from the 2009 Classic donations include: Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City, Indio, La Quinta, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs, C.V. Boxing Club, Pathfinder Ranch, Tools for Tomorrow, West Shores Youth Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, C.V. Education Foundation, Healthy Families – Ophelia Project, Angel View Children’s Foundation, Pegasus Riding Academy, Desert ARC, ABC Recovery Center, Stroke Recovery Center, United Cerebral Palsy, Mourning Star, Desert Cancer Foundation, Alano Club, The Ranch Recovery Centers, C.V. Autism Society, Shelter from the Storm, C.V. Rescue Mission, Martha’s Village & Kitchen, The Well in the Desert, Family Services of the Desert, F.I.N.D., FISH of the Lower C. V., Food Now, Joslyn Center Meals on Wheels, Olive Crest, Father’s Heart, Safe House and Eisenhower Medical Center.
Defending champion Pat Perez and past champions Mark Brooks, Chad Campbell, Joe Durant, David Duval, Charley Hoffman, Justin Leonard, Jesper Parnevik, Craig Stadler, D.J. Trahan and Mike Weir are among the pro entries for the 2010 Classic. Future baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, actor/game show host John O’Hurley and actor Kurt Russell are among the celebrity athletes and entertainers set to participate.
Other pro entries include Michael Bradley, Tim Clark, Brian Gay, Nathan Green, Paul Goydos, Matt Kuchar, Martin Laird, La Quinta resident Scott McCarron, Ryan Moore, Kevin Na, John Senden, Michael Sim, Heath Slocum, Brandt Snedeker, David Toms and Bo Van Pelt. Gay, Toms, Na, Kuchar, Weir, Senden, Clark and Leonard were in the top 30 on the PGA TOUR money list in 2009. Bradley, Gay, Green, Kuchar, Laird, Moore, Perez, Slocum and Van Pelt won in 2009 on the PGA TOUR.
Bob Hope Classic sponsor’s exemptions were awarded to Murrieta, Calif. native Rickie Fowler, Sam Saunders (Arnold Palmer’s grandson), Duval, the 1999 Bob Hope Classic champion on the strength of his closing-round 59, Rocco Mediate, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. native and USC product Jamie Lovemark, Joe Ogilvie, Steve Elkington and Billy Mayfair.
Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra has been named the first-ever “Classic Ambassador.” Berra, who played in the Classic 15 times from 1995-2009, will perform a wide variety of duties on behalf of the 2010 Classic.
Other celebrity participants for the 2010 Classic, a desert tradition since 1960, include: musicians Steve Azar, Alice Cooper, Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles), Robby Krieger (The Doors), Tommy Thayer (KISS), singers Josh Kelley and Clay Walker, actors Anthony Anderson (Law and Order), William Devane (24, The West Wing), Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), Joel Gretsch (V), Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Bruce McGill (Animal House, MacGyver, W), Chris O’Donnell (NCIS: Los Angeles), Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy), Michael Pena (Crash, Million Dollar Baby), who had a hole in one during last year’s Classic, Alfonso Ribiero (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Catch-21), Stephanie Szostak (The Devil Wears Prada), Gary Valentine (King of Queens, Comedian), Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld), actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, comedian Tom Dreesen, Grammy Award-nominated stand-up comic Ron White, chef and barbecue guru Chris Lilly, television show personality and author Dr. Phil McGraw, aerospace pioneer and designer Burt Rutan, snowboarding standout Toby Dawson, former Major League Baseball and National Football League standout Bo Jackson, 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, former NHL star Jeremy Roenick, Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, former Buffalo Bills outstanding wide receiver Andre Reed, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe, NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith, six-time Pro Bowl selection and “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up Jason Taylor, 1986 Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star quarterback Vinny Testaverde and former Tennessee Titans tight end Frank Wycheck. The celebrity field’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 20, SilverRock Resort; Thursday, Jan. 21, La Quinta Country Club; Friday, Jan. 22, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST; Saturday, Jan. 23, Arnold Palmer Private at PGA WEST.
Practice rounds for the 2010 Classic at all four courses will be conducted Monday, Jan. 18 and Tuesday, Jan. 19. Tournament play begins Wednesday, Jan. 20 and concludes Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Palmer Private at PGA WEST. The five-day Classic features 128 top PGA TOUR professionals and 384 amateur contestants, including 30 celebrities. All five days of the Classic will be televised on Golf Channel. At stake is a purse of $5 million, $900,000 to the winner.
The Classic has taken its fan-friendly experience to a new level. Its new Web site, www.bobhopeclassic.com, is one of many platforms by which fans can more easily gain information about, and purchase tickets for, the 2010 Classic.
Along with the new Web site, fans can follow pre-tournament and tournament-week action on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BobHopeClassic) and on Twitter (@bobhopeclassic). There, fans can not only catch up on Classic news and see exclusive celebrity photos and quotes from the always-popular Pro-Am, but enter a variety of contests for the chance to win Bob Hope Classic tickets and other tournament prizes. From a haiku contest to photo caption contests to trivia, fans have a multitude of chances to win.
In 51 years, the Classic has donated nearly $49 million to charities throughout the Coachella Valley. For more information, go to www.bobhopeclassic.com or call 1.888.MRBHOPE (672.4673).
Contact:
Toby Zwikel
(818) 462-5599
Pat Bennett
(760) 346-8184