More Than $1.7 Million Raised For St. Jude During Desert Events

PALM DESERT, CA - More than $1.7 million was raised for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital during "St. Jude: Week in the Desert,'' organizers announced today.

The hospital was presented with a check for $1,725,635 during a presentation held Sunday, culminating a week of fundraising events, said Rick Shadyac, CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising arm for St. Jude's.

St. Jude: Week in the Desert began with a 5K run/walk at Palm Desert's Classic Club. Other fundraising events included live performances by rock legends Thursday and Friday nights, and the sixth annual Warburton Celebrity
Golf Tournament, named after actor Patrick Warburton, held over the weekend at JW Marriott Desert Springs.

"This is just incredible,'' Warburton said. "We were working hard to beat last year's number of $1.2 million, but this went way beyond our hopes.''

All tournament events sold out for the first time in its six-year history.

"We're closing in on our goal of paying for one full day at the hospital, which currently is $2 million per day,'' said tournament Chairman Clarke Rheney. "Most of our board members are based here locally, and we are committed to continue exceeding expectations with this event and doing our part to help the real stars of this tournament -- the kids of St. Jude.''

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--City News Service/Image courtesy of Patrick Warburton "Golf for Kids" Celebrity Golf Tournament on Facebook