Donovan Bailey among first confirmed for this year’s Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic Presented by Samsung

THORNBURY, May 12, 2009 – Today, the Wayne Gretzky Foundation officially launched the return of the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic presented by Samsung to Southern Ontario this July 6-12. This year’s tournament will be featured LIVE on the Golf Channel, and will also directly benefit 19 local charities in a new charity ticket program.

The new ticket program will allow 19 local charities from the Collingwood/Barrie area to sell tickets on behalf of the tournament, and keep 50% of the sales for their individual causes. Tickets are now available through the full list of charities below, as well as on www.gretzky.com/golf.

“I’m very excited about this ticket program, it’s definitely a win-win situation” said Glen Gretzky, Executive Director of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. “For every ticket sold by these charities, they’ll receive 50% of its revenue toward their organization. It’s a great way to help the community while getting more people out to watch some of the world’s best golf talents compete.”

Also new to this year’s tournament are the first three confirmed celebrity golfers –five-time World and Olympic Champion Donovan Bailey; former NHL star Scott Thornton; and  current member of the Calgary Flames, Mike Cammalleri.

“I’m thrilled that Donovan, Scott and Mike are playing this year,” said Wayne Gretzky, Founder of the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. “The celebs are fun to see and it’s also very exciting to watch some incredible golfers vie for their chance to play on the PGA tour”.

Sponsors continue to play a large role in the tournament’s success, with Ford of Canada returning as title sponsor, Samsung as the presenting sponsor and Scotiabank also on board once again. New sponsors this year include Crescent Point Energy Trust, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Nathan’s Hot Dogs. A full list of sponsors is available at www.gretzky.com/golf.

“We’re lucky to have the continued support of our sponsors,” said Wayne Gretzky. “Events like this would never happen without them, and we’re exceptionally grateful for their ongoing commitment to making this tournament something special for all Canadians.”

Returning July 6-12, 2009, the 2009 Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic presented by Samsung will once again be played at the Georgian Bay Club and the Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay, nestled beautifully in the Thornbury / Collingwood area. As an official PGA Nationwide Tour event, celebrities and amateurs will be paired with 160 professionals in a Pro-Am format, shown LIVE on the Golf Channel. Players will once again compete for one of the largest purses on this year’s tour, $800,099. Tickets are available at www.gretzky.com/golf.

For more information, please contact:
Mark James
Cohn & Wolfe
647-259-3269
mark.james@cohnwolfe.ca

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About Wayne Gretzky Foundation
Founded in 2002, the Wayne Gretzky Foundation’s mission is to provide less fortunate youth with the opportunity to experience the sport of hockey. This goal will be accomplished through the donation of hockey equipment and ice time, as well as providing the opportunity for young people to attend professional hockey games. The Wayne Gretzky Foundation believes that hockey instills many positive life skills and contributes to the physical, emotional and social growth of young people.

Donation To Wayne Gretzky Foundation Helps Support 99 Minor Hockey Associations

The Great One is helping 99 minor hockey clubs across the country kick-off a great hockey season. Through a team effort with Samsung Electronics Canada and Best Buy Canada, the Wayne Gretzky Foundation is presenting 99 minor league associations with a $1,000 bursary to help them cover expenses related running their 2008-2009 minor hockey programs.

Earlier this year, the companies launched the 99 Reasons campaign to help raise funds for the Foundation. During the campaign period, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all Samsung TVs at Best Buy locations was donated to the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. Best Buy stores also sold exclusive Wayne Gretzky commemorative stickers for $0.99, with all proceeds of the sale going directly to the Foundation. The total donation, $99,000, represented a combination of funds raised through the retail promotion and monies previously committed from Samsung and Best Buy.

“Minor hockey clubs across the country often struggle with covering the costs associated with running their programs,” said Gretzky. “Thanks to Samsung and Best Buy, my Foundation can now help 99 of minor hockey associations. I truly appreciate their generous support and hope that it will help more youngsters have the opportunity to get involved in the game.”

Gretzky unveiled the 99 Reasons campaign at an event in Vancouver earlier this year where he met with an atom hockey team from St. Albert, Alberta, who won a contest related to the 99 Reasons promotion. The squad from the Edmonton suburb received an all-expense-paid trip to Vancouver and a once-in-a-lifetime chance where they met their hockey hero.

“Hockey is part of the fabric of Canada and Samsung is a major supporter of the game,” said Benjamin Lee, President of Samsung Electronics Canada. “We are thrilled to have completed this successful campaign with Best Buy and that the Wayne Gretzky Foundation can now use these funds to support these Canadian minor hockey associations.”

Created in 2002, the Wayne Gretzky Foundation is dedicated to helping disadvantaged youngsters throughout North America participate in the sport of hockey. As a major supporter of hockey in Canada, the Foundation was a natural fit for Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope program. As a major national retailer and an active member of the communities in which it does business, Best Buy was a natural draft choice for this team.

“Soon after launching the 99 Reasons campaign in our stores, it was obvious that Wayne Gretzky continues to be a great inspiration,” said Martin Vander Velden, VP of Merchandising, Best Buy Canada. “Our team members across the country threw their support behind the Gretzky Foundation and have contributed towards our Best Buy for Kids program goal to empower youth by helping them excel in school, engage in their communities, and develop life and leadership skills. We also had a tremendous response from our customers who truly made this campaign a winner.”

Visit Samsung’s Four Season of Hope

Wayne’s World Reaches Far Beyond The Rink

By Terry Jones, SUN MEDIA

PHOENIX — Wayne Gretzky hasn’t scored a goal in nine years, but he’s still dishing out the assists. Indeed, he’s having a record-setting season, business-wise. “The level of business he is at right now is higher than at any point of his playing career,” said Darren Blake, executive director of WDG Enterprises.

For most of his career, Wayne Gretzky was both the spokesman and the pitchman for the sport. Nobody has come close to replacing him in either capacity, especially the latter.

“Everything is really going well,” Gretzky said at his fantasy camp, presented by Pepsi. “My relationship with Ford and Samsung are very strong and solid. My restaurant in Toronto, my wine estates, Gretzky.com, all of it, is solid.”

Blake said No. 99 is easier to schedule now that he has the uniform off.

“He’s not at the mercy of the team like he was as a player,” he said.

Blake came into Wayne’s world in what you might call an entry-level position.

“I knew Gretz when he first came to the Rangers. I found him a place to live and schools for the kids, Broadway tickets, dinner reservations. That was my job then and we hit it off.

“When he decided to coach, he called and said he was looking to make some changes to the face of and scope of the business. He wanted me to take over the day-to-day running of his business with Ford, Samsung, a huge new emphasis on his foundation, Roots of Canada, Pepsi, his wine company, the Breitling watch company, Wayne Gretzky Authentics and Gretzky.com.”

WDG Enterprises now employs seven full-time people, including an accountant and an in-house lawyer. With Canadian Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns joining up, there will probably be 10 full-time employees soon.

“Wayne always had the idea he had to put in an honest day of work and with most of his partnerships he does,” Blake said of the time the Great One gives of himself.

“I’d like to see him get into more things where he can relax and let his name earn the money. I’d been telling Wayne that he’s at the point where he should be earning money in his sleep. The wine business is a good example of that.”

In Calgary, Gretzky was often referred to as “The Whiner” during his Oiler days. Who knew he’d end up being a winer, joining Peter Jensen in a wine partnership.

“Mike Weir had a hobby brand that sold about 12,000 cases.

Wayne passed that on Day 1. It’s kinda neat lately. Instead of signing sticks, Wayne’s signing a lot of bottles of wine,” Blake said. Jensen is a big part of that enterprise.

“A mutual acquaintance let us know Wayne was interested in the wine business. We did a presentation and he liked it, liked us and we bought a small winery and named it Wayne Gretzky Estates,” said Jensen, who was involved in the business with Creekside Estate Winery in the Niagara region.

“We’re looking at becoming one of the top 10 in Canada, a 100,000 to 200,000 case-a-year brand and making a major initiative into the U.S.

“The thing I find most remarkable about being involved in a business with Wayne is that he’s exactly the same as he was on the ice when it was obvious that the key to his success was that he saw everything.

It’s the same with him off the ice. He sees more than an average observer would see.”

David Greenberg, the VP of marketing for Ford of Canada, said the relationship with Gretzky began six years ago when Ford was in a down period.

“At the time, we were having our challenges. When we came out and announced at an annual dealers meeting in Las Vegas that Wayne had joined the Ford team there were literally tears in the eyes of a lot of our dealers. It was a unifying event for our dealers. Canada is a hockey country and there are plenty of good hockey players, past and present, but there is only one Wayne Gretzky.”

With the business now, it’s personal.

“Wayne is now way more into partnerships and relationship.

That’s why his business partnerships are so carefully selected,” said Lauri Holomis, who started in the business with the Edmonton Trappers and now works for the Young & Rubicam ad agency out of Toronto, dealing directly with the Ford and wine accounts.

Re-launched four months ago, there has been a major initiative toward revamping the more-or-less stagnant Gretzky.com website into something far more substantial, aided by a partnership with Canada’s Insight Sports. The project is headed by Kevin Albrecht and features Coyotes colourman Darren Pang, former Ottawa and Edmonton radio morning man and comedian Jim Jerome and Canadian women’s hockey team member Jennifer Botterill as online hosts.

“Our goal is to make it a main resource for covering all things hockey,” said producer Craig Johnson, who grew up in Gretzky’s home town of Brantford, Ont., and previously worked with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“We’re attempting to grow it into a broader hockey destination — the hockey version of Oprah.com and Marthastewart.com, not just a flashback site.”

In business, Wayne’s world has become a whole new world.