The 2014 Berenberg Gary Player Invitational concluded yet another successful event which saw some of the biggest names in golf, entertainment and business join together with golf icon and Grand Slam champion Gary Player to help raise over $100,000 for underprivileged children at London’s historic Wentworth Club on Monday, 21 July.
The charitable funds, exceeding $100,000, were quickly raised by auctioneer Mr. Jonny Gould on only four bespoke items as professional golfers and participants alike joined in the fun and giving during the gala auction.
Following the evening’s gala, Player together with The Player Foundation and presenting sponsor Berenberg, were able to donate the sizable contribution to this year’s event beneficiary, Depaul UK, in order to aid young people who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged.
“I continue to be astounded and humbled by the funds we are able to raise for children’s charities,” said tournament host Gary Player. “Our global series of events is fast approaching $60 million raised for charity worldwide, but together with Berenberg we have certainly raised the bar in what we are able to accomplish.”
The second leg of the global series, was won by the team of Australian professional Marc Leishman and Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald, along with businessmen Nicklas Backstrom and Stephen Irvine.
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| Kelsey MacDonald and her winning team |
The star-studded field gathered for charity saw the likes of professional golfers Martin Kaymer, Rickie Fowler, Branden Grace, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Jason Day, Fred Couples, Jason Dufner, David Howell, Bernd Wiesberger, Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Woosnam. Participating ladies professionals included Suzann Pettersen, Charley Hull, Carly Booth, Melissa Reid, Henni Zuel, Amy Boulden, Whitney Hillier, Diana Luna and Maria Balikoeva. Additionally, celebrities involved were Ronan Keating, Dougray Scott, Heikki Kovalainen, Jonathan Joseph, Zoe Hardman and Mike Tindall.
“We are proud to call Gary Player our Brand Ambassador, as he is truly a great Ambassador for the game of golf,” said 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.”
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| Maria Balikoeva and Martin Kaymer |
“This was yet another banner event in our Gary Player Invitational series and we are extremely grateful to those who have supported our events over the years,” said Marc Player, Black Knight International CEO. “The all-star cast of golf professionals and celebrities as well as the prominent businessmen contributed significantly to the success of the event over the past two days to truly celebrate a union of golf and giving.”
The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational is part of the world-leading Gary Player Invitational charity golf event series, which has raised in excess of $50 million for charities worldwide. The next stop for the Gary Player Invitational will take the Grand Slam champion to Shanghai on November 3-4 before the series concludes in South Africa on November 20-23.
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| Carly Booth, Kelsey MacDonald, Amy Boulden and Georgia Hall |
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 four 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 over $50 million dollars 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
Established in 1590, Berenberg is one of the leading privately owned banks in Europe today, focusing on four operating divisions: Private Banking, Investment Banking, Asset Management and Corporate Banking. The Hamburg-based partnership has 17 offices in Europe, America and Asia and is managed by personally liable partners. Berenberg opened its London office in 2003 and the Bank’s Investment Banking division is centered here. The equity and economic research team now consists of over 80 analysts covering more than 500 stocks, and the award-winning research is brought to European and North American equity markets by a team of over 50 generalist and specialist sales based in London, Frankfurt, Zurich, New York, Boston and San Francisco.
ABOUT DEPAUL UK
Depaul UK helps young people who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged.
- We protect young people by finding them a place to call home.
- We prevent young people becoming homeless by rebuilding family relationships and offering through the gate support to young offenders.
- We provide 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. Our 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 we were founded in 1989 and continue to work with over 3,000 young people a year providing over 120,000 bed nights to those who are vulnerable and in need.
