THE BERENBERG GARY PLAYER INVITATIONAL RAISES FUNDS IN NEW YORK FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES
Professional Golfers and Business Leaders Help the Black Knight Raise Almost $130,000 for The Player Foundation
Black Knight International and title sponsor Berenberg concluded another successful event among top golf professionals and business leaders at the 2018 Berenberg Gary Player Invitational.
The U.S. leg of the global series celebrated the Union of Golf and Giving on October 1 at GlenArbor Golf Club in New York. The annual charity event raised $129,000 for The Player Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting underprivileged children, the betterment of impoverished communities, and the expansion of educational opportunities across the globe.
This year’s stellar field included silver screen star, Michael Douglas, former U.S. Ryder Cup Captains, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino; former European Ryder Cup Captain, Colin Montgomerie; and 13 Major winners in total including Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Larry Mize, Jerry Pate, Mike Weir, Trevor Immelman, Mark O’Meara, Nick Price, Jeff Sluman, Hale Irwin, Brittany Linciome and Brittany Lang. Members of the PGA, LPGA, LET and Champions tours included Bill Haas, Blair O’Neal, Danielle Kang, Julian Suri, Alison Lee, Kristy McPherson, Morgan Pressel, Beatriz Recari, Annie Park, Caroline Martens, Alison Lee and Emma Cabrera-Bello. World Long Drive Champion, Troy Mullins, also participated.
The winning team led by Larry Mize and Brittany Lincicome scored 96 points, earning them the Baobab Trophy, inspired by Player’s home continent of Africa, as the champions of the 2018 Berenberg Gary Player Invitational at GlenArbor Golf Club.
To conclude an exhilarating day on the golf course, participants continued the festivities with a black-tie dinner and gala auction in the evening. The prized piece of the auction was The 2019 Masters Experience which sold for $26,000.
“Year after year, I am incredibly proud of the strong turnout of this event and the continued support for The Player Foundation,” said Gary Player. “We are grateful for the generosity and compassion of our colleagues and friends who believe in our goal of raising $100 million for those in need.”
Hendrik Riehmer, Managing Partner at Berenberg commented, “It is a privilege to continue our partnership with Gary Player and The Player Foundation to support disadvantaged people living across the world. He is a true inspiration to us all.”
Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International and GPI series founder, added, “We are eternally grateful for all of the participants and the contributions made by our sponsors. The ongoing success of The Player Foundation would not be possible without their continued support.”
In addition to title sponsor Berenberg, global brands including Rolex and SAP also supported the tournament.
This was the fourth Gary Player Invitational staged at GlenArbor Golf Club, set just outside of New York City in Bedford. The Gary Player designed course was in pristine condition to host 30 professional golfers. Fall is the perfect time of the year to witness this special course in all its beauty.
The Gary Player Invitational, sponsored by Berenberg, the German private and investment bank that was founded in 1590, forms part of the world-leading charity golf series, which has helped The Player Foundation raise more than $64 million for worthy causes worldwide. The ultimate goal of The Player Foundation is to raise $100 million by 2025.
For more information please contact:
- Gary Player
- Branden Grace
- Tom Watson
- Colin Montgomerie
- Mark O’Meara
- Trevor Immelman
- Mike Weir
- Lee Trevino
- Larry Mize
- Hale Irwin
- Jerry Pate
- Dylan Frittelli
- Nick Price
- Jeff Sluman
- Bill Haas
- Julian Suri
- Blair O’Neal
- Danielle Kang
- Brittany Lang
- Briana Mao
- Victoria Elizabeth
- Beatriz Recari
- Annie Park
- Caroline Martens
- Morgan Pressel
- Brittany Lincicome
- Alison Lee
- Troy Mullins
- Emma Cabrera-Bello
- 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 is one of Europe’s leading privately owned banks. With headquarters in Hamburg and strong presences in Frankfurt, London, and New York, 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.
