Warburton raises record-breaking $3.9M for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
One of the Coachella Valley’s most anticipated events each year, The Warburton returned to Palm Desert Feb. 24-27 with sold-out outdoor evening music events held on the lawn of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa and a golf tournament hosted on two courses, Desert Willow and Classic Club.
The event raised a record-breaking $3,943,500 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, bringing the total raised since the inception of this event 12 years ago to more than $22 million. The music events and auction were held online in 2021 during the pandemic, raising an amazing $1.8 million virtually last year.
“This event has grown to become the one that many people in this community — as well as those who fly in from around the country — say they will not miss each year,” said Clarke Rheney, event co-founder and tournament chairman. “We sell out quickly, and not just because of the music, golf and fun that is enjoyed over four days. St. Jude has a mission that has captured the hearts of our supporters. It’s truly a party with a purpose, and it has been exciting to watch it grow to become the highest grossing golf tournament for St. Jude in the nation.”
Approximately 75 actors, athletes, songwriters and rock legends joined golfers and other attendees for a weekend of golf and one-of-a-kind music events.
The weekend kicked off with Songwriters Night Thursday evening, featuring four Nashville songwriters sharing the stories behind some of their biggest hits. This year’s featured artists included Lee Thomas Miller, whose credits include seven No. 1 country hits such as “You’re Gonna Miss This;” Eric Paslay, who has written several top hits and collaborated with Amy Grant and Dierks Bentley; Tim Nichols, who is known for his Grammy-winning “Live Like You Were Dying” performed by Tim McGraw; and Kelley Lovelace, who has co-written with Brad Paisley several of the singer-guitarist's top hits.
The Rheneypalozza Jam was held Friday night, with a number of rockers from the 1970s, '80s and '90s performing some of their top singles, including Alice Cooper, Mike Mills (R.E.M), Steve Augeri (formerly of Journey), Wally Palmar (lead singer of The Romantics), Al Paris of Kool & the Gang, Ed Roland (lead singer of Collective Soul), Scott Stapp (lead singer of Creed), Skunk Baxter (formerly with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers), Matt Shafer (aka Uncle Kracker) and surprise performances by actor-musician Dennis Quaid, Mike Reno of Loverboy and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
Attendees packed around the stage, taking videos with their phones while dancing to the songs they grew up with, like "School’s Out" and "Don’t Stop Believin'."
The Saturday Soiree featured red carpet appearances by many of the celebrities involved with the tournament, as well as expansive live and silent auctions and a dinner. The mother of a St. Jude patient also shared her daughter’s heartwarming story that evening, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. The evening included more music from Sixwire with surprise performances by celebrities known for their acting but who also sing, including Kevin Rahm, Richard Karn and Christian Kane.
The celebrity golf tournament, which sold out 57 teams six months before the event, welcomed celebrity golfers like Jennie Garth, Quaid, Richard Kind, John O’Hurley, Oliver Hudson, Rick Dees, William Devane, NFL pros Seth Joyner and Sterling Sharpe and NHL Hall-of-Famer Grant Fuhr, among many others.
The tournament host is actor Patrick Warburton — best known for playing Puddy on "Seinfeld" as well as the star of the syndicated sitcom "Rules of Engagement," the voice of Joe on "Family Guy" and numerous roles in movies like "Ted," "The Tick" and Disney’s "The Emperor’s New Groove."
In addition to chairman Rheney, the locally-based board of directors for this event include Tad Black, Andrea Carter, Andy Childs, Jaci Fitzsimonds, Jeff Grady, Odette Gutierrez, Andy Kerr, KC Kinsey, Kate Spates, Joseph Romano, Greg Rubino, Danielle Scardino, Kim Waltrip, Ralph Scatena, Mariann Sall, Barb Smith, Jeanie Torchio and Patrick and Cathy Warburton.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Events like The Warburton help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
Sponsors of The Warburton included The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, The Auen Foundation, Shakti Warriors, Classic Club, JW Marriott Desert Springs, Tito’s Vodka, Clase Azul Tequila, News Channel 3, Sixwire, Castelli’s and Desert Willow Golf Resort.
The Warburton 2023 will take place Feb. 23-26. For more information, visit thewarburton.com.
Andrea Carter is the owner of the locally-based marketing and PR firm Andrea Carter & Associates. She serves as a member of the board and the PR director for the Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament as well as the board of directors for Palm Springs Women in Film & Television.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Warburton raises record-breaking $3.9M for St. Jude
