The second annual Fred Claire Celebrity Golf Classic will be held on Monday, Aug. 20, at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale with all proceeds benefiting City of Hope’s head and neck and thyroid cancer programs.

“This year’s tournament will follow the winning theme of the 2017 event – an all-star celebrity will play in each foursome, and a reception and dinner will follow,” said Fred Claire, the former executive vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. “In addition, in recognition of a friend and great contributor to baseball, the late Kevin Towers, we are also donating proceeds from this year’s event to City of Hope’s thyroid cancer program.”

“Last year’s inaugural tournament attracted an all-star cast of former Major League Baseball players as well as legendary names from football, basketball and swimming, and we expect to attract big names this year as well,” he added.

Hall of Fame baseball player Rod Carew received the first Celebration of Life award last year from Claire and Stephen J. Forman, M.D., the Francis and Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and director of City of Hope’s T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory. Famed Dodger announcers Jaime Jarrin and Ross Porter were the dinner’s emcees.

Hall of Famer broadcaster Vin Scully and Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda participated in the tournament by hosting luncheons for auction prize winners. The auction prizes will once again be a part of this year’s event.

“We are grateful for the generosity of so many companies, golfers, celebrities and supporters of City of Hope for getting the tournament off to a great start,” said Claire, who has received ongoing treatment at City of Hope for neck cancer and has now made it his personal mission to raise funds for City of Hope. “Now our goal is to make this year’s tournament even more successful to benefit City of Hope.”

Among the celebrities in attendance last year were Hall of Fame player Eddie Murray, Shawn Green, Orel Hershiser, Mickey Hatcher, Reggie Smith, Bill Russell, Steve Yeager, Wes Parker, Ron Fairly, Jim Campanis, Jr., Charlie Hough, Tom Paciorek, Doug DeCinces, Rick Burleson, Matt Young, Ken Landreaux, Derrel Thomas, Tommy Davis, Al Ferrara, Jay Johnstone, Sweet Lou Johnson, Tim Leary, Greg Dobbs, former Heisman Trophy winner Mike Garrett, basketball great Annie Drysdale, former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick and John Naber, one of America’s most successful Olympics champions who received four gold medals in swimming.

The shotgun start is slated for 11 a.m. A cocktail reception begins at 4:30 p.m. A dinner, which will feature auction prizes and an awards program will take place at 5:30 p.m. In addition, there will be an online auction leading up to the event. (Claire noted that last year’s auction prizes also included a softball game at Dodger Stadium for 30 people, a flight to Pebble Beach for a foursome for a round of golf, and tickets for special nights provided by the Rose Bowl, Angels and Padres, in addition to many other items.)

Golf spots, dinner tickets and sponsorships are available by contacting Babak Kapanpour at 626-218-4506 or bkapanpour@coh.org. Information on the tournament also is available at www.fredclairegolf.com.

About City of Hope

City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community practice sites throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.