The Player Foundation continues celebrations in its 30th anniversary year as the European leg of the Gary Player Invitational (GPI), presented by Berenberg, takes to the famous Wentworth Golf Club outside London on 22 July. In the name of charity, the GPI brings together golfers, celebrities, sports stars and prominent businesspeople for a union of golf and giving that focuses on the aid of underprivileged children.
“It is with great pleasure that our Gary Player Invitational event returns once again to Wentworth,” said Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International. “In the 30 years of The Player Foundation, we have been able to make a significant difference in the lives of many, many young children. Great sponsors like Berenberg, Rolex and Callaway Golf, and other generous participants continue to drive the success of our GPI event in the UK.”
“We are glad to support The Player Foundation and to continue the longstanding partnership between Gary Player and our bank,” said Hendrik Riehmer, Managing Partner of Berenberg. Gary Player is ambassador of the Berenberg Masters, one of the largest European Senior Tour tournaments.
This year, the European GPI will partner Berenberg Kids, a charity started by the presenting sponsor born out the desire to give back to children in their local communities throughout Germany and the UK. The Berenberg Kids organisation supports underprivileged youth in the UK through the Demelza Hospice Care for Children that cares for over 700 life-limited children and their families. All funds raised by the Europe GPI will assist the efforts of Demelza Hospice Care for Children.
“I have found it to be of the utmost importance to help underprivileged children around the world,” said golfing icon and GPI host, Gary Player. “The support of Berenberg Kids for Demelza Hospice Care for Children is very touching and a cause that hits very close to home as I grew up in a family that experienced the loss of a loved one through cancer. I know the traumatic impact that can have on the entire family.”
For the GPI tournament at Wenthworth’s Edinburgh Couse – designed by Player along with former Ryder Cup player and captain John Jacobs and the Club’s then professional Bernard Gallacher – the golfing legend will be joined by professional golfers Ian Woosnam, Tony Johnstone, Helen Alfredsson and Hennie Zuel. Celebrities showing their support for the event are recording artists Ronan Keating and Brian McFadden, rugby footballer Martin Bayfield, as well as television personalities Dougie Donnelly, Naga Munchetty, Anton Du Beke and Chris Hollins.
The European leg of the Gary Player Invitational (GPI) is just the second stop of the global GPI series, the world’s leading charity golf series, which also travels to the United States, China and South Africa. Through the Gary Player Invitational events, The Player Foundation has raised over $50 million in support of underprivileged children, the betterment of impoverished communities, and the expansion of educational opportunities around the world since 1983.
Gary Player Invitational http://garyplayerinvitational.com/