| Most
know Andre Agassi as one of the fiercest competitors
in the world of Tennis. Off the court however, Andre
is also known for being one of the most charitable
athletes. Each year, Andre organises the Grand Slam
for Children event in Las Vegas. The aim of the event
is to benefit under-privileged, abused and "at-risk" children in the Las Vegas community.
This
year, the event's sixth iteration, sees Charlotte
invited to particpate in the gala in the form of a
duet with Josh Groban for "The Prayer" and
yet another performance of "Imagine".
Read
below for CharlotteChurch.net Coverage of the
event.
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"I
prefer doing (benefits) for children's charities
because I can relate more with children
,for children I'm more on
the same level."
The 15-year-old singer
also asked to sing John Lennon's "Imagine"
at the benefit.
"I simply adore that
song and thought it was so fitting to everything that
happened. It's a brilliant song and I really wanted to
sing it." |
|
Charlotte
on her role at the Grand Slam for Children Benefit |
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| Charlotte
Church, 15, sings during the Andre Agassi
Charitable Foundation's "Grand Slam for
Children" benefit concert at the MGM
Grand Arena in Las Vegas, September 29,
2001. |
|
| Stars
join Nita Whitaker (C) as they sing
"God Bless America" during the
finale of the Andre Agassi Charitable
Foundation's "Grand Slam for
Children" benefit concert at the MGM
Grand Arena in Las Vegas September 29, 2001.
From left: country singer Tim McGraw,
country singer Faith Hill, comedian Robin
Williams, Nita Whitaker, singer Charlotte
Church, tennis star Andre Agassi, and actor
Eric McCormack. The foundation, created by
Agassi, is designed to benefit at-risk
children. The concert raised over $4
million. |
|
People
Magazine
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Youth
steals the show at Agassi benefit for children
Las
Vegas Review Journal
Norm
Clarke
With a deep lineup of veteran superstars headlining Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children, who would have figured a kid would steal the show?
But that was the case Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena when 15-year-old Welsh phenom Charlotte Church made a rousing Las Vegas debut. Her rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" brought the biggest ovation of the star-studded event.
The charismatic teen was one of the unannounced additions to the show, and what an impression she left with her breathtaking vocals.
There was much post-show buzz, too, about the duet performance of "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John and country-western star Tim McGraw. Close your eyes and they sounded like twins.
Comedians Dennis Miller, Robin Williams and Ray Romano brought their A-material, most of which can't be shared here, most notably a Miller line about Martha Stewart.
Williams offered a fresh twist to his take on the image of Las Vegas: Two years ago at this event he called it "Disneyland designed by Timothy Leary." This time: "It's the Wizard of Oz by Dante."
Romano saw it from another angle: "Las Vegas is the only town where I've had to cancel the wake-up call because I hadn't gone to bed yet."
On a night heavy with patriotism and musical tributes to the victims of terrorist acts, Stevie Wonder told the audience to remember that the violence "had nothing to do with Allah." Applause rang out when he added, "We need to have prayer in every school in this country."
Sixth
Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children Raises More Than $4.2
Million for At-Risk Children
Agassi Continues His Commitment to Assisting Youth in Need
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 30 -- Andre Agassi and a superstar lineup of
entertainers took the stage Saturday evening at the sixth
Grand Slam for Children concert fundraiser to benefit at-risk
youth organizations in Southern Nevada. The Andre Agassi
Charitable Foundation (AACF) raised more than $4.2 million
during the weekend benefit that featured a black-tie VIP
dinner, live auction and sold-out concert. The benefit -- held
at the MGM Grand Garden Arena -- was created in 1994 to offer
support and funding to beneficiaries of the AACF.
More than 6,300 fans attended the Sept. 29 concert gala that
featured performances by Don Henley, Elton John, Tim McGraw,
Brian McKnight, Dennis Miller, Ray Romano, Charlotte Church,
Josh Groban and surprise appearances by Robin Williams and
Stevie Wonder. Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster
served as the musical coordinator for the sixth year.
``Each year I'm amazed and delighted by the level of support
that the Grand Slam for Children receives from the Las Vegas
community and the entertainment industry,'' Agassi said.
``Each performer put on a great show for our audience, and I
want to personally thank them all for graciously providing
their time and talent to the Grand Slam for Children.
``It is satisfying to know that the money we raised tonight
will directly benefit those children who require our immediate
assistance.''
More than 1,900 VIPs and corporate sponsors attended the
pre-concert dinner while others attended a special reception
hosted by world renowned Chef Emeril Lagasse. Following the
pre-event celebrations, the AACF hosted a festive live
auction. The live auction featured an incredible list of items
including, among others, a private tennis lesson with Andre
Agassi and Stefanie Graf, a personal ``bride and groom's first
dance'' instrumental piece by performer Kenny G and a
one-on-one basketball lesson with NBA legend Charles
Barkley.
On Friday, Sept. 28, the Grand Slam for Children kicked off
the weekend with the unveiling of Loppo Martinez's
commemorative artwork -- Waiting for the Children -- at The
Four Seasons' Acacia Ballroom. A sensation in Europe and
Japan, Martinez and his art will be featured among the most
prestigious collections in the United States.
Specific charities benefiting from the Andre Agassi Charitable
Foundation fund raiser include: The Andre Agassi Boys &
Girls Club; Assistance League of Las Vegas' Operation School
Bell; Child Haven; Cynthia Bunker Memorial Scholarship Fund;
The Las Vegas Inner-City Games; Class! Publications; Las Vegas
Sun Summer Camp; Boys Hope/Girls Hope of Nevada; I Have a
Dream Foundation; and the Andre Agassi College Preparatory
Academy, a charter school for at-risk youth which opened in
West Las Vegas on Aug. 30.
GRAND
SLAM FOR CHILDREN: Stars serve up concert to aid kids
Organizer
Agassi says sixth edition of event raises $4.2 million for
foundation
By
MIKE WEATHERFORD
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Saying the country "will find our answers in the acts of
our humanity," Andre Agassi launched his sixth benefit
for youth charities Saturday by announcing a record $4.2
million raised for his foundation.
The Grand Slam for Children at the MGM Grand Garden alternated
between the comic, the solemn and the reassuring, with Agassi
addressing the crowd alone at the beginning of the star-packed
gala.
"Eighteen days ago our world was turned inside out. We
were attacked by evil," the tennis star told the
crowd.
Citing various acts of heroism reported in the aftermath of
the World Trade Center bombing, the tennis star said he
realized, "Our spirit has not been broken, but our spirit
has been revealed."
Saturday's fund-raiser brought in $300,000 more than the last
time it was held in 1999. The event raises the bulk of its
funds from a pre-concert banquet and auction featuring such
items as a private tennis clinic with Agassi and fiancee
Stefanie Graf, a bike ride with three-time Tour de France
champion Lance Armstrong and a pledge from saxophonist Kenny G
to perform at your wedding.
Comedian Dennis Miller drew applause during his monologue when
he told the crowd, "I like the Bush man for the way he
stepped up to the plate" and "turned off the
wacka-wacka porno star music of the Clinton administration and
returned some sense of dignity" to the presidency.
In its sixth year, the Grand Slam has become a top social
event that has raised more than $14 million since 1995.
The money is channeled to several local youth organizations
through the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation. The charity's
biggest thrust has been the charter school that opened last
month at 1201 W. Lake Mead Blvd.
Along with an announced roster that included Miller, Elton
John, Don Henley, Tim McGraw, Brian McKnight and Ray Romano,
surprise guests Stevie Wonder and Robin Williams also were on
hand.
Wonder said before the show that his song "Love's in Need
of Love Today" was "really my only way of expressing
how I feel about the situation."
The morning of the terrorist attacks, "I heard the sounds
that you all saw," the blind pop legend added.
By doing the event in the wake of the attacks, Agassi
"again is making the statement, `This is a night of
love,' " Wonder said. "There never is too much love,
and so tonight I like to feel that we are here because we have
so much of it to give in our own way."
John has been an anchor of the star-studded benefits,
performing at all but one of them.
"I just think Andre does such a great job," he said
before the show.
"It's always great to do the benefits you enjoy. I really
enjoy doing this event."
The many returning performers gave the benefit a familylike
tone of continuity. And Williams' presence at an afternoon
news conference guaranteed that the tone wouldn't become too
reflective.
Asked whether this year's event had become more poignant,
Williams said, "The need right now is just to keep doing
what we must do. We don't give up on (what the charity
does)."
Then, when informed that he wasn't close enough to his
microphone to be heard, Williams vaulted over the table to
embrace reporters and shout in an evangelical rant, "It's
time to hang together!"
"I'm on before him, right?" Romano asked in his
deadpan tone.
Financial
Aid
Agassi's
Grand Slam for Children benefits charter school, youth
charities
By
MIKE WEATHERFORD
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
The day of the terrorist attacks, Andre Agassi paid his
first visit to see youngsters at the charter school built by
his foundation.
"It was very touching, actually. It was a day that I
needed a little something," he says. "I certainly
got a strong lift and boost from seeing the
children."
The tennis star was in New York for the U.S. Open when the
Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy -- Agassi Prep, for
short -- opened its doors to 150 students in grades three to
five at 1201 W. Lake Mead Blvd.
Visiting on Sept. 11 turned out to be a coincidence.
"I wanted to see the kids in class and wanted to get a
sense for how things are over there," he says.
The school is there to be seen by anyone who attends
Saturday's sixth Grand Slam for Children benefit concert at
the MGM Grand Garden arena. Patrons are more likely
interested in seeing Elton John, Don Henley and other stars,
but Agassi believes it's important that the results be
tangible.
"It was important to me not just to change the
children's lives, but to allow the community to see how
these lives are changing," he says.
The charter school emerged as the focal point of Agassi's
charitable foundation during five years of Grand Slam
concerts. The first one in 1995 spread its revenue among a
half-dozen local charities.
"The foundation started with the goal to help children
at risk in a number of different areas," from
homelessness to hunger, he says.
"As we've gotten more experienced with it, we've
started focusing a lot more on the educational side of
it." The independent public school "is what we
believe ultimately makes the greatest
difference."
The benefit concert wasn't held last year, in part to allow
the foundation's staff to concentrate on building the
school.
"I missed it very much," Agassi says of the
concert that quickly became one of the city's top social and
entertainment events.
This year's lineup includes Tim McGraw, Brian McKnight,
Dennis Miller and Ray Romano, plus a previously unbilled
performance by teen-age soprano Charlotte Church and singer
Josh Groban.
Premium floor tables go for as much as $75,000, and still
the banquet floor "sells out before we even announce
who's performing," Agassi says. (For those unfamiliar
with the setup, the rest of the arena opens at 8 p.m. for
those holding individual tickets in the regular
seats).
But, while public demand didn't waver, "I believe it
was a good decision to kind of give everybody a break,"
particularly the corporate donors.
"The year before last, the event cost over $1 million
to put on," Agassi says. "I have it underwritten
every year so that every dime is profit. You can't
appreciate how hard it is to get people to separate
themselves from a million dollars until you try to go out
and do it."
This year's date was locked in long before the recent burst
of benefit concerts and outpouring of contributions to
relief funds for attack victims.
But Agassi doesn't think it's necessary to postpone the
Grand Slam or change it into a different type of
benefit.
"I've concluded the greatest response I could have is
exactly what our president expressed, which is to go back to
your life," he says. "I feel like there is a
responsibility for every American to continue what they
believe in. ...
"The biggest crime would not be to do the event because
of the tragedy. I think that would be allowing the
terrorists to win that much more."
First-time participant McKnight agrees.
"At any point you want to do as much as you can (for
charity)," he says, "but even with everything else
that is going on at the time you should think about not only
what happened in New York, but remember that there are other
places that also need help that are not necessarily focused
on."
McKnight said he was surprised the day he fielded a cell
phone call from Agassi, holding him to a pledge he'd made
when he had to back away from the 1999 concert.
McKnight and Church also have musical ties to David Foster,
the ubiquitous adult-contemporary producer who each year
serves as musical director for the benefit.
Church is coming in from her native Wales for a series of TV
talk-show bookings to promote her new album, and was asked
by Foster to sing his song "The Prayer" with
19-year-old Groban.
"I prefer doing (benefits) for children's charities
because I can relate more with children," she says.
"For children I'm more on the same level."
The 15-year-old singer also asked to sing John Lennon's
"Imagine" at the benefit.
"I simply adore that song and thought it was so fitting
to everything that happened," she says. "It's a
brilliant song and I really wanted to sing it."
McGraw, Miller and Romano make return appearances to perform
alongside John, who has made all but one of the Grand Slams
and gave the first one the credence to attract other big
names.
The concert has acquired "a certain family
element," Agassi says, "when you think about Elton
and those who have been a part of it before. It feels like a
strong family."
Of course, any discussion of family concerning Agassi leads
to the son he and Stefanie Graf are expecting in
December.
"I guess I've always learned in what I do as a
profession to associate nerves with excitement," he
says. "I can honestly say I'm pretty excited about
it."
The couple recently bought a $23 million house in the San
Francisco area, but Agassi says Las Vegas will be home at
least until the end of his tennis career. As long as he's
playing, "the suitcase has always been my home and it
will continue to be that way for a while."
"Between my offices and foundation and family and
friends and training center, this is home and this is where
I focus my energies at this stage of my life," he
notes. "As things develop, I don't have a long-term
vision. When tennis is over, life will change quickly: and
dramatically," he adds with a laugh.
How San Francisco will figure into those changes "I
don't know." For now he calls his real estate
acquisition a getaway. "The reason I say `I don't know'
is that my home has always been where my heart is, and my
heart has always been here."
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