Black Knight International Presents a Union of Golf and Giving: China 2011

Bidders dig deep at Gary Player auction in China

A record RMB 12.2 millon was raised at this years Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola in Shanghai, China in 2010.

A one-hour lesson with pianist Lang Lang went for 950,000 yuan ($142,000) at a charity auction held in Shanghai on Nov 1.

The auction, co-organized by Coca-Cola China, The Player Foundation and the Chinese Foundation for the Prevention of STD and AIDS, was part of the gala event preceding the 2010 Gary Player Invitational golf tournament.

The auction raised 11.87 million yuan and when you add both the silent auction and other donations, the total is a record RMB 12.2 million all of which will be donated to benefit Chinese AIDS orphans.
Gary Player, golf legend and founder of The Player Foundation, won the opening bid for a trip for two from Hong Kong to Europe with 750,000 yuan, the starting price of which was 180,000 yuan.

Gary Player initiated the AIDS-orphans care program with Coca-Cola through his Player Foundation five years ago.

“I am very pleased with the development of this charity event in China over the past four years. The results have exceeded our expectations,” said MarcPlayer, CEO of Black Knight International.

The three previous Gary Player Invitationals raised more than 10 million yuan and the 2010 donations will take the figure to over 22 million yuan.

“It is a long-term mission to help AIDS orphans to regain their confidence and lead a normal life. We have received unflinching support from our corporate donors such as Coca-Cola,” Li Chaolin, president of the Chinese Foundation for the Prevention of STD and AIDS, said.

The gala also featured performances by well-known artists including Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, Singaporean singer-songwriter, composer and actor JJ Lin and third prize-winner of the 2005 Super Girl contest, Zhang Liangying.

Lang Lang, together with the Hong Kong singer and actor Jacky Cheung, presented the song Love is Forever.

JJ Lin won the bid for the piano lesson and hoped Lang Lang would give him “some really constructive suggestions and help him to further improve his piano skills”.

Taking part in the 2010 Gary Player Invitational was Lang Lang’s first official duty after being named Ambassador of the Live Positively campaign by Coca-Cola.

Colin Montgomerie and Retief Goosen’s teams finished 1st and 2nd in the pro-am golf event on Tuesday which saw 32 teams enjoying playing with the Black Knight.