Smokey Robinson Returns To Host 8th Annual Golf Tourney

CALABASAS, CA — Golf aficionados can make the most of their game by joining Smokey Robinson in a day of sport during the 8th Annual Smokey Robinson Golf Tournament Monday at the Calabasas Country Club. The event is hosted by local nonprofit The Midnight Mission, and all proceeds go directly to the services they provide people experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles county.

The special guests on the roster include singer Jeffrey Osborne, former NBA player Norm Nixon, singer/actor Louis Price and — of course — Smokey Robinson, who has hosted the annual tournament for the last eight years.

"We’ve had a golf tournament for a while," said The Midnight Mission Director of Public Affairs Georgia Berkovich. "But eight years ago, Smokey agreed to host it — so for the last eight years, it's been the Smokey Robinson Golf Tournament. He brings some of his celebrity friends to play for a good cause, and it’s a really fun day of golf."

Participants can look forward to a day of golf and an evening with a silent auction, cocktail reception, raffle and awards dinner hosted by comedian Tehran Von Ghasri. This is a huge change from last year's tournament, said Berkovich. Due to pandemic restraints in 2020, organizers behind the event hosted an online-only version of the tournament. This year, the open green field is open again.

Berkovich said this event is the organization's second-largest of the year. The nonprofit relies on money raised from the tournament to provide year-round services to homeless people and families. Support provided by The Midnight Mission includes:

• emergency services
• food services
• restroom access
• barbershops
• drug/alcohol recovery programs.

The Midnight Mission also has a family-living facility in Inglewood, which houses and helps support families experiencing homelessness.

Typically, Berkovich said this fundraiser raises roughly $200,000.

"We really rely on this event for our operations," Berkovich said.

Tickets for the 8th Annual Smokey Robinson Golf Tournament can be purchased on The Midnight Mission's website.