Andre Agassi and All-Star Lineup Help Raise More Than $8.6 Million For Children at 11th Celebrity Gala Concert Benefit

Andre Agassi and All-Star Lineup Help Raise More Than $8.6 Million For Children at 11th Celebrity Gala Concert Benefit

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Andre Agassi and a superstar lineup of entertainers took the stage Saturday evening at the Grand Slam for Children presented by Genworth Financial to benefit at-risk children in Southern Nevada. The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) raised more than $8.6 million during the gala benefit which featured a black-tie VIP dinner, live auction and concert held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

More than 8,000 fans and VIP guests packed the arena Saturday night to see performances by Phil Collins, Michael Buble, Counting Crows, Ellen DeGeneres, a special acoustic performance by John Mayer, Sarah McLachlan, Tears for Fears and Oleta Adams. Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer David Foster served as the musical director for the 11th year.

"Every year, I am overwhelmed by the tremendous support the Grand Slam for Children receives from the Las Vegas community, business partners and the entertainment industry," Agassi said. "It is gratifying to know that 100 percent of the money we raised tonight will directly benefit children who require our assistance."

The VIP sponsors attended a pre-concert reception and dinner followed by a live auction. Items included a 2007 Mercedes CL550, not yet available in the United States, and first-class accommodations for four to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival accompanied by a private cooking experience with Emeril Lagasse. The highlight of the auction was the bidding for two Agassi rackets, the one he used to win his first tournament title and the racket he played with in his last match at the 2006 U.S. Open. After a bidding war, Stefanie Graf walked on stage and offered $360,000 to keep the rackets in the family; the auctioneer instantly closed the sale.

The Grand Slam for Children concert fundraiser benefits the AACF, a not-for-profit organization established in 1994 to assist at-risk youth in Las Vegas, where Andre was raised. More than 90,000 fans and VIP guests have attended 11 Grand Slam events, raising $60.9 million for charity.

Specific charities benefiting from the AACF fundraiser include the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a model charter school in West Las Vegas; Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club; Assistance League of Las Vegas' Operation School Bell; Boys Hope/Girls Hope of Nevada; Child Haven; Class! Publications; Cynthia Bunker and Joy McClenahan Memorial Scholarship Fund; I Have A Dream Foundation; Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars presented by Inner-City Games; Las Vegas Philharmonic's Youth Concert Series; Las Vegas Sun Summer Camp; and YMCA of Southern Nevada.

Since its inception in 1995, the Grand Slam for Children has been distinguished by its roster of top entertainers including Barbra Streisand, Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Robin Williams, Carlos Santana, Usher, Don Henley, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Jay Leno, Stevie Nicks, Seal, Tim McGraw, India.Arie, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Dennis Miller, Brian McKnight, Tears for Fears, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Groban and others.

For more information, please contact the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation at (702) 227-5700.

About the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation

The AACF, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity, was created to provide recreational and educational opportunities for at-risk boys and girls. The Foundation strives to assist those underprivileged, abused and abandoned children who may be deprived of basic options in life. The AACF also offers a combination of emotional, physical and academic programs designed to enhance a child's character, self-esteem and career possibilities. For information, visit http://www.agassifoundation.org/.

About Genworth Financial

Genworth is a leading insurance holding company, serving the lifestyle protection, retirement income, investment and mortgage insurance needs of more than 15 million customers, and has operations in 24 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and 17 other European countries. For more information, visit http://www.genworth.com/.

Source: Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation

CONTACT: Nancy Katz, of R&R Partners for the Andre Agassi Charitable
Foundation, +1-702-318-4213, nancy.katz@rrpartners.com; Rob Powers of the
Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, +1-702-227-5700, rpowers@agassi.net; or
Scott Ghertner, of MGM MIRAGE, +1-702-891-7272

Web site: http://www.agassifoundation.org/
http://www.genworth.com/

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