NEW YORK, June 16, 2008 – Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope, an innovative goodwill program, held its seventh annual celebrity gala to benefit children and families tonight at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. “Live with Regis and Kelly” host, Regis Philbin returned for his fourth Samsung gala and was joined by football greats Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor, who together co-hosted the celebrity-filled event. Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope recognizes the charitable efforts of sports, entertainment, and political notables, including former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Wayne Gretzky, Arnold Palmer, Joe Torre, Boomer Esiason, and Dan Marino through fundraising programs tied to major retailers such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, and the recently added Staples.
Music legend, Carlos Santana gave a special live performance to the 650 guests in attendance where his Milagro Foundation was one of the benefiting charities from the evening’s event. The Milagro Foundation is an organization that supports children and youth charities in the San Francisco Bay Area, the United States, and countries around the world touched by the music of Santana.
“It is so rewarding to be able to come out and work with a first-class organization such as Samsung on a night like this,” said Santana. “We had a great crowd and were able to raise a lot of money for the charities Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope program supports. It’s not often you get such an eclectic group of athletes and celebrities together in one room, but when you do, special things happen and we were able to help a lot of children and families in need in the process.”
The sold-out event featured a roster of celebrities from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and politics including legendary New York Giants linebackers Carl Banks and Harry Carson, as well as rookie receiver Mario Manningham; “The Real Housewives of NYC” Jill Zarin & Bethenny Frankel; “Soprano’s” Vincent Pastore; “Lipstick Jungle’s” David Norona and Paul Blackstone; “30 Rock’s” Katrina Bowden; “All My Children’s” Amanda Barker and Chrishell Stause; and from Bravo’s “Shear Genius” Rene Fris and Laurie Ann Gibson.An online and silent auction of unique experiences including an “Ultimate Santana Package” and sports memorabilia also helped raise funds for all of the participating foundations and charities.
“Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope is proud to begin its seventh year on such a positive note by raising over one million dollars for the program’s charities and providing a wonderful performance by Carlos Santana,” said D.J. Oh, president and CEO, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. “It is especially exciting and encouraging to see all of our partners and celebrities coming together to benefit children and families. Samsung looks forward to being able to support these charitable efforts for years to come.”
Launched in 2002 by Samsung Electronics America, Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope is an innovative goodwill program dedicated to raising awareness and funds through national retail initiatives with Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears and Staples. The retailers encourage their customers to donate to the program through sales promotions and sweepstakes. To date, Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope program has raised more than $12 million for charity, while winning awards and recognition for its achievements.
About Samsung Four Seasons of Hope charities:
- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women. Located in Orlando, FL, the hospital offers comprehensive healthcare services for children and women as well as nationally acclaimed specialty programs including the Congenital Heart Institute, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the third largest Labor & Delivery department in the nation and the region’s only Level I trauma center.
- Boomer Esiason Foundation to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis. Created by Boomer Esiason and his wife in 1993 after their son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, the foundation works to raise money to find a cure for the genetic disease. To date, more than $50 million has been raised for the cause.
- Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation. Created in 2002 to bring educational programs into schools and develop community awareness surrounding the issue of domestic violence.
- St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers. Rudy Giuliani’s charitable efforts for St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers, one of the NY metropolitan area’s most comprehensive health care systems, serving 600,000 people annually. The system includes nursing homes, hospice, substance abuse clinics and EMS services across the city.
- The Dan Marino Foundation. The Dan Marino Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides integrated treatment programs, outreach services and research of chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities in children.
- The Wayne Gretzky Foundation. The Wayne Gretzky Foundation is dedicated to helping young people exercise and develop positive life skills through ice hockey.
- The Jason Taylor Foundation. The Jason Taylor Foundation supports and creates programs that facilitate the personal growth and improvement of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life.
- The Michael Strahan Foundation. The Michael Strahan Foundation is dedicated to assisting disadvantaged youths in the greater New York metropolitan area by raising funds, through its annual Michael Strahan/Dreier LLP Charity Golf Tournament, for the benefit of select organizations that provide opportunities in safety and wellness, education and recreation.
For more information about Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope, please visit our Web site at www.fourseasonsofhope.com.
