Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson's annual golf tourney benefits Wounded Warrior Project
Twelve Cocktails Above, the quietly elegant space located on the 12th floor of the hotel at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio (which once housed a Playboy Club) was once again the venue for the pairings party for the 14th annual Fred "The Hammer" Williamson Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, held Jan. 12-13.
Former NFL players, movie stars, tribal members and excited golfers were there to support and enjoy the elegant mixer, which boasted wonderful music, incredible food and lovely views of the valley.
The silent auction had tempting offerings like signed posters and celebrity photos, sports memorabilia, gift certificates for restaurants and golf at prestigious local courses, staycations at Fantasy Springs and more. The event drew sports professionals and nonprofessionals, all of whom came together to raise money for a good cause: the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).
The Wounded Warrior Project is one of the largest veteran service organizations in the United States with chapters across the country. The nonprofit helps veterans, caregivers and families nationally; its mission (according to the organization's national website) is to "honor and empower wounded warriors" with a vision to "foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history."
Sponsored by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the successful event was attended by athletes and performers, including Kevin Mitchell, Michael Allen, Tony Weekes, Travis Stocking, Glynn Turman and Galaxy Glenn.
Once again, philanthropist, former Marine, football player, film actor, producer and director Williamson and his wife, Linda, showed themselves to be shining examples of people who selflessly give back to the community by stepping up to the plate and organizing this golf tournament and pairings party here in the Coachella Valley to raise funds for the worthy nonprofit.
Beautiful music flowed throughout the party, provided by Fantasy Springs' popular musicians Francesco DiCosmo and Mark Zavon, who play every Friday evening at Twelve Cocktails Above.
Longtime Radio personality Dan McGrath, himself a long-time personal friend of Fred and Linda, was there with his wife, Regina, to support the project and to play for the 15th time in the golf tournament. McGrath serves on many committees and boards in the valley and is committed to helping local nonprofits.
To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project or to make a donation, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
Carole Stephen-Smith began writing in Scotland for a woman’s weekly at the age of 15 and then covered American celebrities for the London Evening Echo. Arriving in the desert, she wrote for Desert Woman in the 1990s. Carole focuses on charities that help women as well as medical causes, especially breast cancer awareness, and all aspects of child abuse.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson's golf tourney benefits wounded warriors
