Thursday, March 8th
Sun Sports HEAT TV broadcasters and two of South Florida’s leading sports media personalities, Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino announce the dates for the sixth annual Reid & Fiorentino Call Of The Game Dinner & Celebrity Golf Classic. Taking place in March, the two-day fund raising event and highlight of social season attracts some of the region’s biggest names in sports and entertainment, while honoring the achievements by some of the today’s most acclaimed community heroes. The fund-raiser will benefit two of the most celebrated local charity organizations – Lauren’s Kids Foundation and the Dade Schools Athletic Foundation.
The Celebrity Golf Classic Presented by SHARP will take place on Thursday, March 8th at the prestigious Turnberry Isle Miami, starting at 11:30 a.m. More than 50 foursomes will converge on the championship courses for an exhilarating day of competitive golf, whereby each team will be paired with a celebrity team captain vying to win a series of prizes awarded at the end of the day during the post-golf awards reception. In addition to lunch and on-course refreshments, players will be invited to participate in the “Hole-In-One Challenge” for a chance to win a car sponsored by AutoNation. Previous Golf Classic celebrity participants include: Cornelius Bennet (Colts/Bills/Falcons), Woody Bennett (former NFL/Dolphins), Benny Blades (Detroit Lions/UM), Kim Bokamper (former NFL/Dolphins), Glen Rice (NBA All-Star), Ki Jana Carter (Cincinnati Bengals), John Congemi (ESPN college football analyst), Jeff Cross (former NFL/Dolphins), John Crotty (Miami HEAT), Troy Drayton (former NFL/Dolphins), AJ Duhe (former NFL/Dolphins), Mark Duper (former NFL/Dolphins), Darrell Fullington (Minnesota Vikings/UM), Reggie Givens (former NFL/San Francisco 49ers), David Graf (Cleveland Browns), Nicole Hage (LPGA player), Bobby Harden (Dolphins/UM), John Harris (Seattle Seahawks), Tommy Hutton (Florida Marlins), Mike Inglis (Miami HEAT), Jason Jackson (Miami HEAT), Tim Hardaway (former NBA player), Dan Carpenter (Miami Dolphins), Keith Askins (Miami HEAT), Keith Sims (Dolphins/Redskins), Joey Cornblit (Jai-alai player), Keith Byers (Dolphins/Eagles), Bill Lindsey (Florida Panthers), Larry Little (Hall of Famer), Darrell Malone (former NFL/Dolphins), OJ McDuffe (former NFL/Dolphins), Craig Minervini (Florida Panthers), Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, Pro Football Hall of Famers Bob Griese and Larry Little, Coach Don Shula, Nat Moore (Miami Dolphins), Alonzo Mourning (Miami HEAT), Jose Paneda (Miami HEAT), Dwight Stephenson (Hall of Famer), Troy Stradford (former NFL/Dolphins), Steve Whitaker (New York Yankees/Giants), Gino Torretta (former NFL/WQAM), Footy (radio personality), Chad Henne (Miami Dolphins), PGA golfer Woody Austin, LPGA golfer Patti Rizzo, and many more.
The Call Of The Game Dinner Presented by Publix will take place on Friday, March 9th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Legendary sports anchor and broadcaster, Tony Segreto, will host the evening’s entertainment as the Master of Ceremonies, while some of today’s most distinguished individuals are honored for their work towards making a difference “behind the scenes” in our community. With an illustrious attendance of sports personalities, business leaders and notable philanthropists, the dinner will include a silent auction as well as a live auction featuring sporting memorabilia, luxury vacation packages and one-of-a-kind experiences, among other items, that attendees will have a chance to bid on throughout the evening. This year’s online auction will go live starting on February 20th through the website www.reidandfiorentinoevents.
The evening will feature a number of prestigious awards being presented for excellence and leadership in the community. Former Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback and NFL/College Football Analyst for almost three decades, Bob Griese, will be presented with the Don Shula Sports Legend Award. This award honors an outstanding sports legend that has demonstrated a passion for their sport and brings that same passion off the playing field to their community. Past award winners include Dr. Jack Ramsay, Coach Don Shula and Alonzo Mourning. Broadcaster, Joe Rose, will receive the Sonny Hirsch Excellence in Sports Broadcasting Award. This award honors an outstanding sport broadcaster that has had a great impact in their field, while making notable accomplishments within the community. Past award winners include Tony Segreto, Hank Goldberg and the late-great Jim Mandich. Bill Fauerbach and Publix will be presented with the Community Service Award for outstanding work throughout South Florida. This award honors exceptional individuals or organizations that have shown a great love and passion for improving our community. Past award winners include Dwyane Wade, Tracy Wilson Mourning and Dr. Barth Green with daughter Jenna Green. The 2012 Call Of The Game Dinner will introduce a new and unique award for the very first year to commemorate the legendary broadcaster, Jim Mandich. The inaugural Jim Mandich Courage and Commitment Award will be presented to Nick Buoniconti and Marc Buoniconti for their outstanding work with The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, The Miami Project’s fundraising arm.
Tony Fiorentino comments on this year’s event: “We are pleased to announce the dates for this year’s annual charity fundraiser. Both events continue to draw some of the region’s most celebrated names in sport and community leadership. Each year we continue to support two of the most remarkable charity organizations that ultimately benefit our kids in the community and throughout the region. We are proud to be introducing the first ever Jim Mandich Courage and Commitment Award honorees for 2012, and we thank all of our sponsors and patrons for their continued support.”
Lauren Book, founder of Lauren’s Kids Foundation comments: “This year’s Call Of The Game Dinner & Celebrity Golf Classic will be a wonderful way to end our Winter fundraising season that began in 2012 with our statewide walk from Key West to Tallahassee, during which we received tremendous support from all our followers. The ultimate goal of our organization is to raise funds for the families who are coping with the aftermath of sexual abuse and child exploitation. The heartfelt generosity of our community is helping to bring our network of children, parents and families much closer together. Eric and Tony have been phenomenal in helping to raise awareness for our cause and we thank everyone involved with helping make the event such a success.”
A Foursome for The Celebrity Golf Classic Presented by SHARP can be purchased for $3,000. The cost for an individual golfer is $800. A table of ten (Gold table with a celebrity) at The Call of the Game Dinner Presented by Publix can be purchased for $5,000. A Silver dinner table can be purchased for $2,500. Individual tickets are priced at $250. An MVP Golf and Dinner Package, which includes one golf foursome and one Silver dinner table, can be purchased for $5,000.
Reservations for both events can be made online by completing the ticket request form at www.reidandfiorentinoevents.