Event Details
Europe 2012
July 23
Coca-Cola Presents the 2008 GPI in Shanghai to raise funds for AIDS-impacted Children in China
On November 3rd, 2008 Coca-Cola (China) Beverages Limited presented the 2008 Gary Player Invitational in Shanghai, a charity golf tournament focused on raising funds for the Chinese Foundation for the Prevention of STD and AIDS in direct support of the AIDS-impacted Orphans program in Yunnan. Coca-Cola China started the sponsorship program for AIDS orphans in 2006. More than 800 children currently benefit from the Coca-Cola charity fund.
The event kicked off with a gala charity auction dinner for 300 VIP guests, hosted by Grand Slam Champion Gary Player and Doug Jackson, President of Coca-Cola China. Celebrities that supported the event included China #1 professional golfer Liang Wenchong, Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin and Olympic badminton medalist Ye Zhaoying. Over RMB 4.5 Million was raised through corporate sponsorships, auctions and donations, which surpassed the target by more than RMB 1.5 million.
The 2008 Gary Player Invitational continued on the morning of November 4th when 100 regional business leaders arrived for a special golf clinic hosted by Gary Player, followed by a “Texas scramble” tournament with a wide variety of golf equipment and prizes donated by Callaway Golf.
“Coca-Cola strives to be responsible in its business operations, while also responding to community needs. Partnering with Gary Player to develop this unique charity event allows us to make a real difference in the lives of hundreds of kids in China,” said Doug Jackson, President of Coca-Cola China.
Last year the Gary Player Invitational raised RMB 1.8 Million for the Yunnan AIDS Orphans Program. This funding is already providing support for 608 children in terms of daily life support, educational financial aid, medical assistance, psychological support and social activities to improve the children’s quality of life.
“The Player Foundation has the mission of providing support to less fortunate children. We are particularly excited about developing our charitable partnership in China, and being able to give AIDS orphans in Yunnan a better chance in life,” said golfing legend Gary Player, founder of The Player Foundation, which this year is celebrating its 25th Anniversary.
Since 2002, Gary Player and Coca-Cola have partnered to raise funds for needy children around the world. The involvement of Coca-Cola China with HIV-AIDS programs in China began in 2003, when the Company supported the International Seminar on HIV/AIDS and SARS at Tsinghua University. In 2005, Coca-Cola and the Chinese Foundation for the Prevention of STD & AIDS launched a nationwide HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaign targeting women and young adults in more than 100 cities, and hosted a touring exhibition entitled, “Nationwide Action, Operation AIDS Free”, promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in major cities. In 2006, Coca-Cola China started a charity program in a village in Yunnan province supporting 199 AIDS-affected orphans. To date, more than 800 AIDS orphans are helped by the Coca-Cola charity fund in Yunnan and Hunan provinces.
