Actor Patrick Warburton will host a celebrity golf tournament in Palm Desert in March to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, organizers announced this week.
The third annual Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held at the Classic Club on March 1-3 to benefit the hospital, which conducts research on and treats pediatric cancer and other diseases, spokeswoman Andrea Carter said.
Warburton is a star of the CBS comedy "Rules of Engagement" and portrayed Elaine Benes' (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)on-and-off boyfriend David Puddy on the classic NBC comedy "Seinfeld." He also appeared in the movie "Ted" and supplies the voice of neighbor Joe Swanson on the Fox animated comedy "Family Guy."
Other celebrities scheduled to play in the tournament include actors Danny Masterson, Alan Thicke, Cheech Marin, Peter Gallagher, Robert Hays, Oliver Hudson, Luke Perry, Scott Wolf, Chris McDonald, Rob Morrow, Michael Pena and Joel Gretsch; Hockey Hall of Fame member Grant Fuhr; Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould and Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier.
A "Friday Night Jam Session" will start the tournament weekend at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert. Rocker Alice Cooper, Don Felder of the Eagles, Robbie Krieger and Dave Brock of the latest incarnation of the Doors, Danny Seraphine of Chicago, Mike Mills of R.E.M., Grammy-winning singer Kim Carnes and country band Sixwire are scheduled to appear.
"This tournament is so extraordinary because of the way it incorporates musicians," said tournament chairman Clarke Rheney. "It's an unbelievably good time supporting one of the most honorable causes in the world."
The tournament is Saturday and Sunday morning. On Saturday night at the Marriott, there will be dinner, a comedy show by Kevin Pollak, music by Sixwire and dancing. Celebrities will walk a red carpet starting at 5 p.m., according to Carter.
Last year, more than $310,000 was raised for St. Jude, "and the Warburtons are hoping to raise the bar yet again this year," Carter said.
In 2010, Warburton and his wife Cathy visited the main St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn., and later decided to hold a fundraiser, Carter said.
"We're grateful for the outpouring of support and look forward to hosting a fun weekend that benefits the kids of St. Jude," Warburton said.
"The research being done at St. Jude not only saves lives of so many who receive treatment at the hospital, but also children all over the country and future generations who will receive similar diagnoses."
Tickets to the Friday Night Jam Session are $125, and Saturday gala tickets are $250. Golf is $2,000 per person, $8,000 for a foursome. Each foursome will be paired with a celebrity. Information and tickets are available at patrickwarburtongolf.com.
