Cook & Dine Auction with Cardinals’ Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald & Celebrity Chef Beau MacMillan, Benefits Animal Assisted Therapy Program
Phoenix, Ariz. (June 2, 2011) -- Arizona Cardinals’ Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Executive Chef Beau MacMillan have cooked up something special for the Animal Assisted Therapy Program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Together they are offering the chance to win a unique cooking and dining experience to raise more money for the 6th Annual Swing Fore Kids Golf Classic, which was held on April 22nd at Troon North Golf Club.
Fitzgerald, an accomplished chef and has a passion for cooking, is joining forces with Chef Beau MacMillan who has appeared on NBC’s Today Show and Food Network’s Iron Chef America - and is the Executive Chef at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa. The two are donating their time for a private interactive cooking and dining experience at the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa where this once in a lifetime culinary treat will be hosted.
The dinner includes a three course meal accompanied with wine that takes place in the ultra exclusive private dining room -Table XII at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa. The winner will also receive a one night stay at the Sanctuary. 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Animal Assisted Therapy Program which depends entirely on private donations and charity events for funding. Donations ensure the Program’s success and its ability to provide services to patients and their families.
To bid for the “Cook and Dine” experience, visit www.SwingForeKids.com. The eBay auction will open on June 6th at 9:00 a.m., starting bid will be $1,000. The online auction will close on June 17th at 9 a.m. Questions? Contact swingforekids@cox.net or call 602-469-5666.
Now in its 6th year, The Swing Fore Kids Golf Classic was started by then-12-year old Michael Young and has raised $300,000 for the Animal Assisted Therapy Program – the Classic is now one of the Program’s major funding sources. Now 18, Young is a senior and graduating from Phoenix Country Day School and is the Director of Swing Fore Kids. Last year, Young was honored at Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game as a People Magazine/MLB All-Stars Among Us Winner and was also honored by the Hon Kachina Council. He started the charity golf tournament, because he wanted to make a difference in his community and recognized the tremendous impact therapy animals could make in a child’s life.
The 2011 Golf Classic was attended by Phoenix area sports figures and other celebrities and included a Longest Drive contest won by Arizona Cardinals’ Long Snapper Mike Leach in the men’s contest and his wife, Julie, in the women’s contest. The emcee for the event was Ron Wolfley of Sports 620 KTAR. Lyle Sendlein, Starting Center for the Arizona Cardinals’, took home first place in the Classic.
About the Animal Assisted Therapy Program
Animal Assisted Therapy is a program where therapy animals and their owners are trained and nationally registered to provide therapeutic interaction with patients and their families. Scientific research has shown that a patient’s interaction with an animal can provide positive physical and emotional benefits.
About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class care in more than 40 pediatric specialties to children from throughout the state and region. Phoenix Children’s is in the midst of a major expansion to meet the needs of the Southwest’s rapid population growth. The signature element of the expansion is a new 11-story, 750,000-square-foot tower which will enable the hospital to grow from 345 licensed beds today to a total of 626 licensed beds once the project is complete. The hospital’s expansion also includes an aggressive physician recruitment effort and new satellite centers in high growth areas of the Valley. For more information, visit the hospital’s web site at www.phoenixchildrens.com.
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Media Contact:
Allison Otu
602-546-0824
