Tony Bennett’s All-Star Tennis Event and Benefit Gala in Miami
Legendary performer and 17 time Grammy winner Tony Bennett hosted two charity events in Miami on March 19th that raised nearly half a million dollars for several charities dedicated to arts education and the sport of tennis. Sean Wolfington, an entreprenuer and philanthropist, was honored at the gala with the Tony Bennett Exploring the Arts Award.
Tony Bennett’s All-Star Tennis Event and Benefit Gala brought together Grammy-Award winning artists and the top professionals in the sport of tennis for two events to benefit Exploring the Arts, founded by Tony Bennett and wife Susan Benedetto to strengthen the role of the arts in public high school education; Team Bryan, founded by the Bryan Brothers and Ryan Wolfington to help get children off the streets, into the classroom and onto the tennis court; and the Greater Miami Tennis and Education Foundation.
Earlier in the day, the All-Star Tennis Event was held at the Cliff Drysdale Center at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, featuring amateur players and the top tennis players of the world including Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters, Bob and Mike Bryan, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Mardy Fish and Ryan Harrison. Tony Bennett greeted the players at an exhibition match that ended the tournament with over 300 spectators in attendance.
Latin superstar Alejandro Sanz also joined in the tennis action at the matches, which was hosted by Cliff Drysdale. Exploring the Arts, Team Bryan, and the Greater Miami Tennis and Education Foundation were the charities to benefit from the tennis tournament. The All-Star Tennis Event was sponsored by The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center. Univision was the media sponsor for both events.
Later in the evening, a seated dinner gala for 400 guests held at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens featured a special performance by Tony Bennett. Bennett was joined on stage with Alejandro Sanz for their duet of “Yesterday I Heard the Rain” which is featured on Bennett’s #1 CD, DUETS II.
A dessert reception followed dinner and was highlighted by a performance by the Bryan Brothers Band, featuring Bob and Mike Bryan. YouTube sensation Tiffany Alvord also performed during the Afterglow party.
The evening was hosted by Univision’s Giselle Blondet, the host of the channel’s “Nuestra Belleza Latina” program.
The seated dinner was catered by Thierry Catering, and the delicious desserts bar by Italian Lifestyle Catering by Puntino.
The gala was sponsored by Mayakoba Resorts, the leading destination in the Mexican Riviera; the Automotive Leadership Roundtable, a group of the country’s top performing and most influential automotive dealers; and Mollydooker Wines, one of the world’s most decorated winemakers.
