American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and The Honda Classic golf tournament sponsored an intimate performance by jazz star Kenny G for hospitalized children at Nicklaus Children's Hospital on February 22.
The private performance honored patients and families at Nicklaus Children's Hospital as part of the continued mission of American Honda and Honda Classic Cares, the charitable arm of The Honda Classic, to give back to the children of South Florida.
The Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation and Nicklaus Children's Hospital are primary beneficiaries of the PGA TOUR event, which takes place February 19-25 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens.
The tournament awarded a record $3.63 million to South Florida children's charities last year including a second-consecutive individual grant of $1 million to the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation. Jack and Barbara Nicklaus founded the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation in 2004 in an effort to provide families access to world-class pediatric healthcare. In honor of the Foundation's support, Miami Children's Hospital at 3100 S.W. 62 Ave. in Miami was renamed Nicklaus Children's Hospital in 2015 and Miami Children's Health System was renamed Nicklaus Children's Health System in 2017.
The Honda Classic has increased its contributions to local children's charities for 11 consecutive years thanks to the significant growth the event has garnered since moving to PGA National Resort & Spa in 2007. The success is a testament to American Honda's 37 years as the longest-standing title sponsor on the PGA TOUR. The Honda Classic has given more than $35 million to South Florida children's charities including Nicklaus Children's Hospital since its inception.
Nicklaus Children's Hospital is a world leader in pediatric healthcare. With a medical staff of more than 800 physicians and over 3,500 employees, the hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medical care from birth through adolescence. Nicklaus Children's Hospital offers more than 40 pediatric specialties and subspecialties, and is home to South Florida's only freestanding pediatric trauma center.
Kenny G, who remains one of the world's most renowned saxophonists 36 years into his storied career, is the top-selling instrumental musician of the modern era. Through his partnership with American Honda and the Honda Classic, Kenny G has entertained at several children's medical facilities and charities throughout the South Florida area.
The performance for young patients at Nicklaus Children's Hospital brought back memories for Kenny G of how his storied musical career was born when a young Kenny Gorelick of Seattle, Washington discovered the saxophone one evening while watching the Ed Sullivan show. That inspired him to take up the instrument and he has collaborated with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Toni Braxton and Frank Sinatra. His album Breathless was the biggest selling instrumental record in U.S. history with more than 12 million records sold in the U.S. alone. His 1994 holiday album Miracles remains the best selling holiday album of all-time.
Kenny G has also made efforts to take on different kinds of musical forms. He has recorded albums that have displayed his appreciation for jazz standards (Classics in the Key of G, 1999), tropical sounds (Paradise, 2002), Latin beats (Rhythm and Romance, 2008), R&B (Heart and Soul, with contributions from Robin Thicke and Babyface), and Latin inspirations for Brazilian Nights.
