- Gala and Fore the Kids Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament to take place November 16 & 17 at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL, featuring over 314 years of Major League Baseball experience
- Event proceeds to benefit the Jerry Ford Grow the Game Fund, which seeks to remove economic barriers that stand between kids in underserved communities and their chance to play the sports of baseball and softball
The Rise 2 Greatness Foundation, formerly known as The Perfect Game Cares Foundation, announced the honorees of the 2023 Celebration of Greatness Gala, which aims to celebrate greatness in and around baseball and philanthropy.
The 2023 honorees include:
Bo Jackson, Give Me a Chance Foundation – Legacy Award
Clemente Family, Roberto Clemente Foundation – Generations of Giving Award
Rawlings Sporting Goods – Lifetime Corporate Partner Award
Tony Reagins, Major League Baseball – Grow the Game Leadership Award
Sports Facilities Companies – Community Impact Award
Amber and CC Sabathia, PitCCh In Foundation – It Takes a Village Award
Cal & Bill Ripken, Ripken Baseball – Driven by a Dream Award
Aaron & Patty Judge, ALL RISE Foundation – Hope for the Future Award
Luis Gonzalez – Hometown Hero Award
Jennie Finch – For the Love of the Game Award
Ernest Radcliffe, Radcliffe’s Youth Sports Organization – Urban Youth Empowerment Award
Greg Goodwin, MVP Baseball – Honoring Black Baseball Award
Brian Jordan, The Brian Jordan Foundation – Educational & Literacy Advocacy Award
Rise 2 Greatness Foundation Executive Director and Board Chair, Jennifer Ford stated: “On behalf of the Rise 2 Greatness Foundation, I want to congratulate each honoree of the 2023 Celebration of Greatness Gala. Each member of this group has displayed a love for the game and a sincere desire to help grow the sport. To this day, each honoree embodies and personifies the Rise 2 Greatness Foundation’s mission to help improve the lives of youth from underserved populations and to provide playing opportunities for all. The honorees continue to inspire us all.”
The 2023 honorees will be recognized during the Rise 2 Greatness Celebration of Greatness Gala on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fl. On Friday, November 17, the Foundation will host its 5th annual Fore the Kids celebrity golf tournament at Rosen Shingle Creek, featuring a who’s-who list of current and former Major Leaguers, baseball insiders and supporters.
Among those presently scheduled to attend the Celebration of Greatness Gala and golf tournament include Luis Alicea, Marlon Anderson, John Buck, Ray Burris, Kyle Farnsworth, Ben Ford, Bernard Gilkey, Curtis Granderson, Ron “Papa Jack” Jackson, Charles Johnson, Termarr Johnson, Scott Kazmir, Ramiro Mendoza, Marcus Nettles, Tim Redding, Mark Reynolds, Reggie Sanders, Michael Tucker, BJ Melvin Upton, Jr., Jemile Weeks, Rickie Weeks Jr., Preston Wilson, Tony Womack, and Dmitri Young.
Additional players are being added to the list daily. Proceeds from all Celebration of Greatness Gala related events and activities will benefit the Jerry Ford Grow the Game Fund, which helps provide baseball and softball playing opportunities for children in underserved communities across America. Gala ticket and golf participation information can be found at R2Ggala.givesmart.com.
