Anthony Mackie, David Ortiz
From December 1-3, ten-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion and MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz will host his 15th annual David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic. The event is to be held on Marco Island, FL, to benefit the David Ortiz Children’s Fund. The three-day social and golf outing – this year dubbed “Weekend with Big Papi” – sees the biggest names in sports and entertainment joining in on Ortiz’s efforts in raising funds for this international cause which provides lifesaving heart surgeries and care for children in Ortiz’s native Dominican Republic and throughout New England. To date, the surgeries made possible by the David Ortiz Children’s Fund have saved the lives of 1,434 children. It has also aided an additional 15,863 kids.
Expected familiar faces at this year’s event include Papi’s former Red Sox teammates Johnny Damon, Kevin Youkilis, Clay Buchholz, Brock Holt, John Lackey and Jarod Saltalamacchia. Also, fellow MLB Hall-of-Famers Barry Larkin and Jim Rice as well as World Series Champs Dontrelle Willis, Mariano Duncan and Tony Oliva; MLB legends Jose Bautista, Andruw Jones and Félix “King Félix” Hernández; former Boston Bruins and Stanley Cup Champions Tuukka Rask and Shawn Thornton; six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire; Super Bowl Champs Marshall Faulk and Lonie Paxton as well as three-time Pro Bowl-er Jevon “The Freak” Kearse; actor-comedians Anthony Anderson and Lenny Clarke; and more.
“It’s been a wild year following my Hall of Fame induction and I’m ready to get back to doing what I love most by helping kids and giving back,” said David Ortiz.
“I always tell my kids that no matter where I am or what I am doing, if I can help someone… that has to come first. I was put at home plate to do something special and I’m continuing that mindset off the field.”
For more information on the golfing and social experiential packages available, please visit the David Ortiz Children’s Fund website. Packages range from $3,500-$15,000 for groups and individuals. To date, the David Celebrity Golf Classic has raised over $11 million.
