Patch Blog: Celebs Coming to Glendora Country Club

Roy Firestone, a nationally known sportscaster and entertainer, Hall of Fame hockey announcer Bob Miller and other celebrities highlight the fourth annual Sowing Seeds For Life Celebrity Golf Tournament for Charity on Oct. 8 at the Glendora Country Club.

Firestone, whose versatile standup act includes impersonations, musical numbers and sports bloopers, has agreed to perform at this year’s tournament. If you’ve never seen it, the one-hour show is something to behold. If you only know Firestone as a sportscaster, you’ll be amazed how talented he is.

Miller, the Los Angeles Kings’ television play-by-play announcer since 1973, ranks with Vin Scully and the late Chick Hearn as a Los Angeles broadcasting institution. On a Prime Ticket show years ago, Scully, appearing with Miller and Hearn, said Miller had obtained his stature even though his team had never won a championship.

That is no longer the case. The Kings won their first Stanley Cup in their 45th season this year. The always friendly and personable Miller is great with fans. So bring memorabilia for Miller to sign and/or bring a camera to take photos. Miller will gladly accommodate.

Renowned auctioneer Dave Hester, the star of the A&E reality show “Storage Wars,” will again contact a live auction that features unique and priceless items.
Firestone and Miller join a long list of celebrities who have taken part in past SSFL tournaments. The past two years the tournament has featured an all-star sports panel talking about their careers and their lives.

The first three tournaments were held at Sierra La Verne, but Sowing Seeds founder Vicki Brown and the tournament committee chose to move the tournament to Glendora CC this year.

On last year’s sports panel were former Laker assistant coach Frank Hamblen, legendary horse racing track announcer Trevor Denman, L.A. Times sports columnist and former sports editor Bill Dwyre, and former Laker and North Carolina star George Lynch.

The previous year, the tournament committee hit a home run, lining up a panel of Laker legends Jerry West and James Worthy, former Dodger shortstop and manager Bill Russell and former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick. Bill Dwyre served as the panel moderator.

Other celebrities who have played in the tournament or attended the dinner include USC and NBA legend Bill Sharman, Dodger greats Tommy Davis and Al Downing, UCLA football announcers Chris Roberts and Matt Stevens, Dodger executive and former L.A. Ram and Denver Bronco wide receiver Michael Young.

For this year’s tournament, Roberts, who lives in Glendora, Stevens, Harrick and Dwyre have already committed to returning. For balance, former USC cornerback Chris Hale, who starred at Monrovia High and played in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills, has also said he will play. Other celebrities will be added as the date of the tournament approaches.

Normally, the entry fee for such a tournament would be at least $500. But for the bargain price of $200 ($750 for a foursome), you can meet Bob Miller, rub shoulders with sports celebrities and see Firestone perform.

Firestone, also a best-selling author, will have copies of his two books, “Up Close With Roy Firestone,” and “Don’t Make Me Cry, Roy,” on hand for a book signing following his show. He will donate a portion of the proceeds to Sowing Seeds for Life, a 501 © (3) non-profit that directly provides food and other services to some 6,000 needy people per month.

The driving force behind the charity and the tournament is Glendora resident Vicki Brown, who besides being the founder and CEO of Sowing Seeds for Life is also the CEO of DPI Labs, a prominent multimillion La Verne aerospace company. Vicki literally planted the seeds that grew the charity and the tournament. Sowing Seeds For Life started out as a backyard garden project. “I’m just proud to be the one who watches all this happen,” she says modestly.

It is her hard work and dedication and her connections to the right people that has enabled her to accomplish so much. She is the one who assembled an energetic tournament committee headed by co-chairmen Tim Grant and Al Snow. Another key member is Greg DeSmet, the founder of DPI Labs.

Even non-golfers can contribute by being an event sponsor, by purchasing a tee or green sign, making a donation, or donating a raffle or auction prize. At least a portion of most donations is tax deductible.

For further information, contact Cassandra Gutierrez at cvgutierrez@dpilabs.com or call 909 392-5777, ext. 271. There is also a website, www.sowingseedsforlife.org.