August 23, 2007–The dreams for Danny Gans came true when he moved to Las Vegas and was given the opportunity to be a headliner in the Entertainment Capital of the World. And these days, Gans, whose show plays in the Mirage Hotel and Casino’s Danny Gans Theatre, spends nearly as much time helping others’ dreams come true as he does entertaining thousands of Las Vegas visitors. In addition to helping organize other charitable events, he annually hosts Danny Gans’ Partee Fore Kids, a celebrity pro-am golf event that raises funds for The First Tee of Southern Nevada and the Danny Gans Junior Golf Academy. Danny Gans’ Partee Fore Kids will be played at Las Vegas golf course Anthem Country Club on October 28-29, and will feature entertainers, athletes, and PGA and LPGA Tour golfers.
Celebrities scheduled to participate this year include Gans, Jim Colbert, Stephanie Louden, Ken Howard, Tom Dreesen, Lorenzo Lamas, Nick Faldo, Lance Burton and many others. Othere notables who have played in the past include Mike and Greg Maddux, Marty Barrett, Craig Barlow, Erica Blasberg, Rollie Fingers, Chris Riley and many others.
“My family and I have been blessed with a wonderful life, and the city of Las Vegas has been amazing to us,” says Gans, a one-time aspiring professional baseball player whose career was derailed by injury. “It’s very rewarding to help our area charities and organizations that focus on helping make the lives of children and family better. And It’s an honor to work with the dedicated individuals who give freely of themselves so that others may have the opportunity at finding a better way.”
Over the years, Gans has helped raise more than $1 million for the charities. The money is raised through benefit shows, events that include the Danny Gans Run For Children’s Charities, and other personal donations. And throughout the year, Gans also gives away show tickets to teachers, students, charities, and fire fighter and law enforcement organizations.
Several years ago, Gans created the Danny Gans Junior Golf Academy (DGJGA) where all kids are given the opportunity to affordably learn the game of golf and the positive life skills that it instills. The DGJGA is operated by The First Tee of Southern Nevada, an organization that positively impacts, through the game of golf, the lives of thousands of youth in the Las Vegas area. In addition to funding his junior golf academy, Gans regularly helps organize other fundraising events and donates to several other Las Vegas area charities including the John C. Vanderburg elementary school, Lili Claire Foundation, Nevada Childhood Cancer Institute, Opportunity Village, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Second Chance Foundation of Nevada, and United Blood Services.
Gans is also very good golfer who holds a single-digit handicap. He has played in several charity golf events including the PGA Tour’s FRYS.com Open pro-am, and also the PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am where he was one of the featured celebrities on the CBS television broadcast. He is a member of Las Vegas’ DragonRidge Country Club, and also has a locker at the prestigious Shadow Creek golf course that is owned by MGM Mirage, parent company of The Mirage Hotel and Casino.
The public is invited to play and participate in Danny Gans’ Partee Fore Kids, and teams and sponsorships are available for purchase. In addition to the golf, there will be a special PARTEE on Sunday evening in the Mirage with special performances by several of the celebrities.
The First Tee of Southern Nevada also operates the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Tour where the best youth golfers in Las Vegas tee it up.