FT. LAUDERDALE – Jason Taylor, the 2007 NFL Man of the Year, and his wife, Katina, hosted the seventh annual Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic presented by BankAtlantic on May 16-17, 2010. The festivities began on Sunday, May 16 with a gala dinner and auction at Martorano’s Italian-American Kitchen at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Fla., as the Taylors partnered with celebrity cook Steve Martorano to host an evening of good music, great food and most importantly, fundraising for the youth of South Florida. The event concluded on Monday, May 17 with a day of golf at Grande Oaks Golf Club in Davie.
The “Old Hollywood” themed Martorano’s Dinner was more than appropriate as the red carpet was adorned by one sports legend after the next. Stylishly dressed in black and white cocktail chic attire, the all-star lineup included the likes of Dan Marino (Hall of Fame Quarterback), Bruce Smith (Hall of Fame Defensive End and NFL Career Sack Leader), Anthony Munoz (Hall of Fame Offensive Tackle), Zach Thomas (Miami Dolphins legendary linebacker), Ricky Williams (Miami Dolphins running back), Pop Star Chris Kirkpatrick (*NSYNC), Jonathan Ogden (ten-time NFL All-Pro), Chris Doleman (eight-time Pro Bowl performer), O.J. McDuffie (two-time Miami Dolphins MVP), Craig Ehlo (14-year NBA veteran) and a host of current Miami Dolphins including Will Allen, Greg Camarillo, Vernon Carey, Channing Crowder, Brandon Fields and Lousaka Polite. Throughout the evening, guests were entertained by the stylings of Steve Martorano’s son, DJ Joey Martorano and Dan Marino’s son, DJ 1Tre.
Joe Rose of NBC-6 and WQAM, served as the emcee for the evening and following an impassioned speech by Steve Martorano, Rose joined Jason and Katina in acknowledging the event’s key dignitaries, which included BankAtlantic CEO Jarett Levan. Rolando Rodriguez of the Jackson Memorial Foundation and Carlos Tenorio, a patient at the Holtz Children’s Hospital were presented with a $50,000 check which will directly benefit the Jason Taylor Learning Center at the Holtz. The Taylor’s then proudly honored the first graduating class of Jason Taylor Scholars as part of the Foundation’s partnership with Take Stock in Children. Sharifa Shageer, who began the program as a ninth grader in 2007, will be attending Broward College in the fall and Ivaneza Moliere, the first student to ever join the Jason Taylor Scholars program back in 2005 as a 7th grader, will attend the University of Florida next school year. In addition, the Jason Taylor Foundation presented Take Stock with $36,000 to purchase scholarships for three new students.
Following a night of donations, dancing and the world’s greatest meatballs, Taylor and the golfers had an early tee time at Grande Oaks Golf Club Monday morning. Joining in on the fun with the other celebrity golfers were former NFL greats Cris Carter and Robert Smith. As the final scores were tallied, Dan Marino and his teammates from Community Capital Management captured the first place prize, a perfect ending for the sponsors of the Awards Luncheon! But before the weekend could come to a close, Jason announced Bonnie Uribe of Tamarac, Fla. as the raffle winner of the 2010 Scion tC, donated by JM Family Enterprises, Inc. and Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC.
In addition to BankAtlantic, Martorano’s and Community Capital Management, other major contributors to the Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic included 3Cinteractive, Behnke & Associates Insurance, Carnival Cruise Lines, Callaway, Cubavera, Dada, Divine Delicacies, Duane Morris, Gerlinde & Michael Photography, Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust, Heritage Travelware, Hooters, Improv of Hollywood, JM Family Enterprises, JM Lexus, Jordan Brand, JuiceBlendz, NeoStar Sports & Entertainment, Neutrogena, Pepsi Beverages Company, Perry Ellis, ProCamps, Pro Tect Management, Publix, Redline Media Group, Segall Bryant & Hamill, Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC and Wescott Financial.
The Jason Taylor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support and create programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life. For more information on the Jason Taylor Foundation, please call (954) 424-0799 or visit www.JasonTaylorFoundation.org.