Fresh off an amazing run on ABC’s ratings hit, Dancing with the Stars, Jason Taylor, the reigning NFL Man of the Year, returned to South Florida to host the fifth annual Seminole Tribe of Florida Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic weekend.

Taylor and his wife, Katina, kicked off the festivities on Sunday, June 1 with a spectacular gala dinner and charity auction at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla. The event concluded with a day of golf at Grande Oaks Golf Club in Davie. More than $400,000 was grossed over the weekend, with proceeds benefitting the Jason Taylor Foundation, Holtz Childrenís Hospital and Take Stock in Children.

Sunday’s gala began with a red carpet entrance fit for a Hollywood premier, and featured and All-Star guest list that included several of Taylor’s Dancing with the Stars cast-mates such as partner Edyta Sliwinska, Oscar winner Marlee Matlin and her dance partner, Fabian Sanchez. Rapper Chingy, Pop Star Chris Kirkpatrick (*NSYNC) and DJ Irie rounded out the catalog of entertainers. The roster of sports stars was impressive as well, including the likes of Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis Colts All- Pro), Eddie George (former Tennessee Titans All-Pro), Shawn Marion (Miami Heat All-Star), Alonzo Mourning (Miami Heat All-Star), Anthony Munoz (Pro Football Hall of Famer, former Cincinnati Bengal), Brady Quinn (Cleveland Browns Quarterback), O.J. McDuffie (two-time Miami Dolphin MVP), Chris Doleman (eight-time Pro Bowl performer), Leon Lett (former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro), Ickey Woods (former Cincinnati Bengals running back), Craig Ehlo (14- year NBA veteran) and others.

Guests were entertained by the Valerie Tyson Band before Joe Rose of NBC- 6 and WQAM, began the program. After being introduced by the Plantation High School Step Team, Jason and Katina Taylor brought up the evening’s key dignitaries, including S.R. Tommie of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Rolando Rodriguez of the Jackson Memorial Foundation, who introduced Julio Saenz, a patient at the Holtz Childrenís Hospital, and Ele Bautista-Bernard of Take Stock in Children, who introduced four new Jason Taylor Scholars (Nicholas Baker, Tanisha Crawford, Jo-Nell Grahm and Oscar Ospina). In addition, Jason paid tribute to the teachers at the Jason Taylor Reading Room before Ludgy Joachim, a Miramar High School student who participates in the program, gave a heart-felt speech to the crowd.

Following the presentations, Taylor and Rose began the live auction, with assistance from comedian Jeffrey Ross. Several unique trips and experiences were auctioned off before Bill Fauerbach of Publix SuperMarkets pledged to match the guests’ donations up to $25,000 in an effort to encourage Taylor and Sliwinska to lace up their dancing shoes one more time. The crowd obliged at a feverish pace and was treated to a live rendition of the Tango. Tee-off at Grande Oaks Golf Club began Monday morning as Lawrence Taylor (Pro Football Hall of Famer, former N.Y. Giant), Mike Piazza (12-time Major League Baseball All-Star), Terry Norris (three-time world champion boxer), Jeff Conine (1995 MLB All-Star MVP) and Al Leiter (two-time MLB All-Star) all joined in on the action. Following a round of golf, in which the team of ProTect Management and Ki-Jana Carter claimed first place, Katina Taylor ended months of suspense by drawing the winning ticket for the 2008 Scion tC raffle. Chris McDonagh of New York was the proud winner of the new car, donated by JM Family Enterprises and Southeast Toyota Distributors.

In addition to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, other major contributors to the Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic included 3CInteractive, Behnke & Associates Insurance, Carnival, Cubavera, Dada, Duane Morris, Dynasty Apparel, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gerlinde & Michael Photography, Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust, Hargrave Custom Yachts, Heritage Travelware, Hooters, Improv of Hollywood, JM Family Enterprises, JuiceBlendz, Kerzner International, McArthur Dairy, Miami Dolphins, Miami Herald, NeoStar Sports & Entertainment, Neutrogena, Office Depot Foundation, The Original Steakhouse, Pepsi, Pro Tect Management, Publix, Rendina Companies, Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, Segall Bryant & Hamill, and Wescott Financial.

The Jason Taylor Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization whose mission is to support and create programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life. For more information on the Jason Taylor Foundation, please call (954) 424-0799 or visit www.JasonTaylorFoundation.org.