Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope, a charitable endeavor that raised $1 million benefiting children and families, held its eighth annual celebrity gala last month at Cipriani Wall Street, here.
The evening was highlighted by a performance by Grammy Award winner John Legend.
Regis Philbin, returning for his fifth gala, was joined by Bob Costas, returning for his third, in co-hosting the event.
Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope recognizes the charitable efforts of sports, entertainment and political notables — including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Wayne Gretzky, Arnold Palmer, Jimmie Johnson, Boomer Esiason and Dan Marino — through fundraising programs tied to business partners, major retailers such as Best Buy, Sears, the recently added Lowe’s, as well as some of its regional partners.
Legend, who gave a special live performance to more than 500 guests in attendance, was representing his Show Me Campaign, one of the benefiting charities from the evening’s event. The Show Me Campaign’s mission is to end poverty through sustainable development, education and service at the individual, family and community levels. Legend brought along singer/songwriter Estelle and his brother Vaughn to help entertain the crowd as both are part of Legend’s new record label, Home School Records.
The night brought together a deep roster of celebrities from the worlds of sports, entertainment and politics, including newly signed New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and current quarterback Kellen Clemens; the New York Giants’ Amani Toomer; New England Patriots Wes Welker; the New York Jets Kerry Rhodes and Darrelle Revis; Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant; former NBA star and current ESPN NBA analyst Jamal Mashburn; TV star Molly Simms; “All My Children’s” Chrishell Stause, Shannon Kane, Brittany Allen and Melissa Claire Egan; music artist and producer Swizz Beatz; recording artists Kelis and Fabolous; Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton; Rene Fris of Bravo’s “Shear Genius”; and “America’s Next Top Model” winner Whitney Thompson.
To date, Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope program has raised more than $20 million for charity, while winning awards and recognition for its achievements.
Charities benefited by Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope include: the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, located in Orlando, Fla.; The Boomer Esiason Foundation to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis; The Jimmie Johnson Foundation, dedicated to assisting children, families and communities in need; St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers, with charitable efforts by Rudy Giuliani; The Dan Marino Foundation, which fights chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities in children; The Wayne Gretzky Foundation, helping young people develop positive life skills through ice hockey; and The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, to develop community awareness surrounding the issue of domestic violence.
