Golf, business and entertainment personalities help raise $212,000 for The Player Foundation
New York, N.Y. – The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational concluded yet another successful event with some of the biggest names in golf, business and entertainment, which celebrated the Union of Golf and Giving with golf icon and Grand Slam champion Gary Player. The 2015 global invitational series has been extra special with the Black Knight celebrating the 50th anniversary of his career Grand Slam and his 80th Birthday, while title sponsor Berenberg celebrated their 425th anniversary.
Participants joined in the fun and giving during a gala auction after an exciting day of golf, and later Gary Player, The Player Foundation and presenting sponsor Berenberg donated a significant contribution during the Gala Dinner. The day’s festivities raised $212, 000 for The Player Foundation, which aids the betterment of impoverished communities and the expansion of educational opportunities around the world.
The team lead by Chi Chi Rodriguez had a winning score of 16 under par and was crowned champion of the 2015 Berenberg Gary Player Invitational at GlenArbor Golf Club.
The all-star field featured the only golfer in history to have been awarded Player of the Year on all three PGA Tours, Tom Lehman; 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner; and ninety-time international tournament winner and LPGA legend with the most wins to her name, Annika Sorenstam. Recent World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Mark O’Meara; 1987 Masters Champion Larry Mize; six-time PGA Tour winner and PGA Champion, Jeff Sluman; and Hunter Mahan, two-time World Golf Championships event winner also joined the event.
In addition, Miss America Kira Kazantsev and former NFL standout Victor Green participated alongside other top players from the PGA, LPGA, LET and Champions tours which included: Tony Finau, Alison Walshe, Retief Goosen, Natalie Gulbis, Rich Beem, Dottie Pepper, Ian Woosnam, Emma Cabrera-Bello, Brooke Henderson, Danielle Montgomery, Paige MacKenzie, Kristy McPherson, Brittany Henderson and Amanda Blumenherst.
“I am very pleased by the success of the event and the funds we were able to raise for The Player Foundation,” said Gary Player. “Our continued support towards impoverished communities around the world would not be possible without the generous contributions made by our sponsors and field of participants.”
Hendrik Riehmer, Managing Partner at Berenberg commented, “The strong turnout was a great way to celebrate our 425th anniversary this year and Gary Player’s Grand Slam anniversary and 80th birthday. It is important to help make a difference for underprivileged children around the world.”
Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International and GPI series founder, added, “I applaud Berenberg for their continued support in being our title sponsor. We would not be able to achieve the fundraising success we have without them and their involvement has been a big factor in shaping our success.”
The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational forms part of the world-leading charity golf event series, which has raised more than $60 million for charities worldwide. The benefiting charity for the U.S. event was The Player Foundation, whose goal is to donate $100 million by 2020 to the support of children’s charities, the betterment of impoverished communities and the expansion of educational opportunities throughout the world.
The 2015 series will continue later this year in South Africa, Abu Dhabi and India.
For more information please contact:
Lea Lamprecht – C&R Communications
llamprecht@discovercrc.com
+ 1 310 664 8840
Bo Wood – Black Knight International
b.wood@garyplayer.com
+ 1 864 477 2720
Meagan Fester – Black Knight International
meagan@garyplayer.co.za
+27 21 448 7777
Notes to the editors:
BGPI 2015 Participants
1. Gary Player
2. Tom Lehman
3. Mark O’Meara
4. Larry Mize
5. Jeff Sluman
6. Brittany Henderson
7. Hunter Mahan
8. Jason Dufner
9. Chi Chi Rodriguez
10. Rich Beem
11. Ian Woosnam
12. Annika Sorenstam
13. Dottie Pepper
14. Natalie Gulbis
15. Amanda Blumenherst
16. Emma Cabrera-Bello
17. Brooke Henderson
18. Kira Kazantsev
19. Paige MacKenzie
20. Danielle Montgomery
21. Retief Goosen
22. Tony Finau
23. Alison Walshe
24. Kristy McPherson
ABOUT 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.
ABOUT THE PLAYER FOUNDATION
The Player Foundation was established in 1983 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 United States, China, Europe 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 $60 million to the support of children’s charities, the betterment of impoverished communities and the expansion of educational opportunities throughout the world.
Gary Player, acknowledged as a world-class humanitarian, believes that the strength of our future depends upon the abilities of our children. “I have found that the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others does not thrust itself upon us,” Player says, “But we do not need to look hard for it either. When you spot the chance to give back to the world, act on it. You will have made life better, for others, and for yourself.”
The Gary Player Foundation is a non-profit 501 C (3) organization managed by Black Knight International in Palm Beach, Florida.
ABOUT BERENBERG
Berenberg was established in 1590 and today we are one of Europe’s leading privately owned banks. With our headquarters in Hamburg and strong presences in Frankfurt, London, New York and Zurich we work from 19 offices across Europe, America and Asia. We deliver our expertise through four divisions – Private Banking, Investment Banking, Asset Management and Corporate Banking. Our Managing Partners lead Berenberg’s 1,250 professionals in their commitment to delivering a modern and efficient service, while maintaining a firm connection with our 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 Dr. Hans-Walter Peters, 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.”
Contact:
Media Manager
Gary Player Group, Inc.
22 South Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601
United States of America
Tel: + 1 864 477 2720
Cell: + 1 864 430 4011
Fax: + 1 864 477 2721
b.wood@garyplayer.com
www.garyplayer.com
