Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament: Celebrity, Philanthropy, and the Allure of Shadow Creek

The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament hosted by Aria Resort And Casino, was recently held at the Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas. Luxist attended the event this past weekend and experienced first-hand the unique blend of celebrity and philanthropy. However, this year the event took place at one of the most alluring, mythic, elite golf courses in the U.S., Tom Fazio's Shadow Creek. And for the first time, the course opened to the general public.

A little more on this golf course: unlike many famous courses, this one is hard to imagine, out in the middle of the Nevada desert, and even harder to find. From the Las Vegas strip, it's about a half hour away -- north on I-15 to Craig Road, then go west, then north again, and finally, through some imposing guard gates. And then, there it is, beyond the gates -- the 350-acre, $60 million plus, exceptionally private, painfully green, Tom Fazio course looking more like courses at Pinehurst, or Kiawah, or Augusta. Anywhere, almost, but Nevada.

Shadow Creek boasts quiet streams, rushing brooks, weeping willows, waterfalls, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, and stone bridges that look eerily like the old Swilken bridge at St. Andrews. Indeed, Shadow Creek, has an untouched, impossibly perfect, movie-set look, as if few mortals would ever dare to actually play the course.

For many years, adding to this ineffable allure, is fact: for years, and even now, ONLY MGM Resort guests are permitted to play Shadow Creek. Green fees are listed at $500.00 -- with limo service to and from the course. And the players must schedule tee times at least an hour apart, giving the impression that golfers are on the course by themselves. All of this plays into an image of ultimate elitism combined with escapism, creating a course intrigue that involves rarity, mystery, and sanctuary.

The course's route runs mostly north and south so the sun's glare would miss the golfer's eyes, and Fazio with his builders, dug 50 feet into the low desert to provide for elevation changes and enough dirt to build hills around the entire property to provide another dimension of privacy. One of the stories heard, perhaps apocryphal, was that many who live close to the golf course don't know of its existence.

Tags: celebrity philanthropy, charity, golf, Las Vegas, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, Nevada Cancer Center, Shadow Creek Golf Course, sports

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Playing Well, Doing Good: The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Shadow Creek, Las Vegas

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Charity, Sports

"I'm truly excited about bringing my tournament to Las Vegas. Shadow Creek is one of my favorite courses and ARIA is a spectacular resort. I love seeing old friends, playing golf and having fun, but the most gratifying aspect of hosting the event is what we've been able to give back." said Michael Jordan in a recent interview.

Significant wealth and great philanthropy are often interconnected, as philanthropic giving among the uber-wealthy is a common occurrence. Bill Gates, Steve Case, Warren Buffett and others have donated billions to help others and have started their own foundations to do it. Certainly, to whom much is given, much is required, is an oft-quoted line from the New Testament in the Bible. This sense of a returning a cosmic favor also lives among significant celebrities, with Michael Jordan as a prime example.

Tags: ARIA Resort and Casino, Cats Care, Celebrity Golf Tournaments, Golf, James R. Jordan Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, Nevada Cancer Institute, Shadow Creek Golf Course, Tom Fazio Shadow Creek Golf Course

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The Mondavi Clan Buries the Hatchet for a Good Cause

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Auctions, Events, Charity

The Mondavi clan has been feuding for more than forty years – think of it as the Hatfields and McCoys minus the folk music, but with The White House, a fur coat and financial accusations, Wall Street, and oceans of wine. If anything good came of the family rupture, it's that dissatisfied clan members went out and gave us offshoots like the Robert Mondavi Winery, Folio Fine Wine Partners (Oberon, Masi, Leda, etc.) and Continuum Estates. And all the while nursing other winemakers like Grgich Hills and fostering much better American wines than were being served in 1965, when the feud began.

But all good things – well, good for wine drinkers, at least – must come to an end: the second and third generations of the will get together for the first time ever to host a wine dinner on Thursday, October 7 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and you can virtually be there. Six Mondavi family members will get together at the Carriage House, at Charles Krug Winery in Napa Valley, for an event that will be broadcast throughout private dining rooms in Morton's Steakhouses around the country.

Everyone will be dining from the same menu, with each course of brand new Morton's cuisine paired with a wine chosen by one of the Mondavis. A silent auction will be held on the evening, and an upcoming online auction around the event will feature a 27-liter blend from the Mondavi families with all proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Seats are still available if you'd like to join the event.

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Tags: Make-A-Wish, Make-A-Wish Foundation, mondavi, mortons