History

The Warburton has raised more than $26,5 million in 13 years
for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The love of golf and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital brought together actor Patrick Warburton and tournament chairman, Clarke Rheney, and in 2010 as teammates at the Schultz Celebrity Golf Classic, the pair dreamed up an event that would blend Patrick’s popularity as a celebrity with Clarke’s deep-rooted knowledge of how to successfully operate golf tournaments. The Coachella Valley desert, with its spectacular surroundings and some of the most revered weather in the country, would serve as the perfect backdrop.

Clarke was hooked by the mission of St. Jude at a very young age, after serving the hospital as part of his Eagle Scout project. Growing up near Memphis allowed Clarke many opportunities to be connected to St. Jude, and it’s been close to his heart ever since. Clarke honed his skills in golf tournament operations through a number of roles over the years, including Celebrity Chairman of the Bob Hope Classic and most recently, as part of the Executive Committee in charge of amateur golf for the PGA TOUR’s CareerBuilder Challenge.

In 2010, Patrick and his wife Cathy made their first visit to St. Jude to tour the facility and meet some of the patient families. Patrick read to the kids, and Cathy decided to volunteer her artistic talents to paint a mural on one of the walls at the hospital. Moved by the patients they met and the impressive strides that have been made on pediatric cancer survival rates due to St. Jude research, they were eager to partner with Clarke to lead a fundraising effort that became the Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in March 2011.

The tournament has grown to include one-of-a-kind music events such as the Songwriter’s Night – the stories behind the stories of some of country’s greatest songs – as well as a rock variety show known as The RheneyPalooza Jam, which features 4+ hours of hits by rock and roll legends and hall-of-famers accompanied by house band Sixwire, made up of some of the best studio musicians in Nashville. As part of years 2016 & 2017, the RUSH was a driving experience at the BMW Performance Driving Center West – At the Thermal Club where participants enjoyed lead/follow lapping, timed autocross, drag race and a performance drive. In January 2019, we added a Special Dinner with Andy Childs at The Nest in Indian Wells which was attended by 100 local St. Jude supporters and was added again in January 2020. To celebrate our 10th anniversary in 2020, we created the highly-anticipated Catwalk celebrity fashion show luncheon also held in January. Other ancillary events that are part of The Warburton include the St. Jude Coachella Valley Dream Home Giveaway and a 2-day Alpha Media Radiothon that is broadcast on 8 Coachella Valley radio stations. With these special events, we are extending our reach and deepening our commitment to raising the necessary funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where they are leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer.

Profile on Patrick
Patrick serves as Tournament Host, and is perhaps best known for playing Puddy on Seinfeld as well as starring in the syndicated sitcom Rules of Engagement, the voice of Joe on Family Guy and numerous roles in movies like Ted and Ted 2, The Tick, Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove and Planes: Fire & Rescue, and DreamWorks’ Mr. Peabody & Sherman. He brings together many of his celebrity friends to highlight this star-studded weekend in the desert raising much-needed funds for kids battling pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Warburton stars in a Netflix series as Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Founders
Patrick and Cathy Warburton

Chairman
Clarke Rheney clarke@thewarburton.com

Board Members

• Tad Black, Logistics Director
• Andrea Carter, Publicity
• Andy Childs, Music Director
• Jaci Fitzsimonds, Marketing & Co-Chair VIP Experience
• Jeff Grady, Hotel Director
• David Herrera
• Andy Kerr, Production Manager
• KC Kinsey
• Oscar Lua
• Joseph Romano, Sponsorship Director
• Greg Rubino, Director of Golf Committee
• Mariann Sall, Auctions
• Danielle Scardino, Auction Director
• Barb Smith, Co-Chair VIP Experience
• Kate Spates, Digital Communications
• Ralph Scatena, In memoriam

Additional Committee Members:

• Auction Committee
  • Rita Dulek
  • Amy Lipton
  • Ben Reed
  • Danielle Rubino
  • Lori Tucker
  • Leeann Verret-Rives
  • John Wolk

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Odette Gutierrez; (714) 855-6350;  odette.gutierrez@alsac.stjude.org