Berenberg, the private and investment bank and Black Knight International, united some of the biggest names in golf, business and entertainment under the banner of ‘Golf & Giving’ to raise more than £126,000 for various children’s charities including youth homelessness, Depaul.
Alongside 18-time Major winner Gary Player, the annual tournament, staged on the Gary Player-designed Edinburgh Course at Wentworth Club on July 23rd and 24th, featured a number of the game’s iconic figures, including Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer and Sir Bob Charles, the first left-handed golfer to win a Major Championship.
However, it was the team led by three time Major Champion Padraig Harrington, who retained his title from last year, and Ladies European Tour star Alex Peters that claimed overall victory on the day, with a combined team score of 86 points.
Tournament host Gary Player, said: “I continue to be blown away by the generosity and support of the players and the sponsors and am thrilled by the funds we have been able to raise this year.
“I visited Depaul recently and can testify to the significant difference the money raised during this event makes and the positive impact it continues to have on so many young lives.”
The day culminated in a black-tie dinner and auction, where guests were given the opportunity to bid on a selection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including The Masters, Wimbeldon, Manchester City experience, The Porsche European Open and an entertaining speed painting done by Dave Sharp before being treated to a performance by Abba.
Following the successful event, Dr. Hans-Walter Peters, Managing Partner at Berenberg, commented: “We are proud to be associated with some of golf’s most iconic individuals. It’s an honour for us to support Gary’s charitable activities, which continue to make a tangible difference to the lives of underprivileged children, not only in the UK, but across the world.”
Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International and founder of The Player Foundation, added: “I would like to personally thank all of our sponsors, especially Berenberg as well as the players who attended today. Without their ongoing support of the Gary Player Invitational series, we would simply not be able to achieve our goal of raising $100 million for charities around the world by 2025.”
The event at Wentworth Club is part of the world leading Gary Player Invitational series, which has helped The Player Foundation raise more than $63million for charitable causes.
In addition to the United Kingdom, annual events are staged by Black Knight International in Abu Dhabi, Japan, USA, China and South Africa.
Press Release issued on behalf of Black Knight International, by Landmark Golf Marketing & Communications
For further media enquiries contact:
John McKenzie – Landmark Golf Marketing & Communications
john@landmark-media.com
T: +44 (0) 1780 752790
M: +44 (0) 7595 906196
Bo Wood – Black Knight International
b.wood@garyplayer.com
T: + 1 864 477 2720
Meagan Fester – Black Knight International
meagan@garyplayer.co.za
T: +27 21 448 7777
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 organisation 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 Abu Dhabi, the United States, Japan, China, the 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 $63million 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) organisation 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 International 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 427-year history there have been only 38 of them. In the last ten years, Berenberg doubled its staff to 1,500 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
Between Berenberg, the second oldest bank in the world, and Gary Player, Berenberg staged the first European Senior Tour tournament in South Africa in 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, Georgia Hall and Maria Parra Luque.
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 63,000 people since it was founded in 1989 and continues to work with over 3,000 young people a year, and, through the Nightstop emergency accommodation network, provides more than 12,000 bed-nights a year 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 800 vulnerable young homeless people living for up to two years within Depaul’s supported hostels in the UK.
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
Ninety-five percent of young people living within Depaul hostels experience a positive move-on when they leave Depaul.
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