Makena Resort Hosts Benefit for Hawai'i Children's Cancer Foundation

Phillies All-star Shane Victorino and His Celebrity Golf Classic

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. November 30, 2009

MAKENA, HI, November 23, 2009 - Benchmark Hospitality International and its newest Hawaiian property, Makena Beach & Golf Resort, located in Makena, Maui, hosted Philadelphia Phillies All-star Shane Victorino and his Second Annual Celebrity Golf Classic on Saturday, November 21st, 2009. Benchmark officials and the resort also congratulated Victorino and his wife, Melissa, on their marriage, which took place in Maui a week earlier. Victorino, an enormously popular Hawaii native fondly known as the “Flyin' Hawaiian,” launched the Celebrity Golf Classic last year raising $100,000 for the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter. The goal for this year is $120,000 to benefit the Hawai'i Children's Cancer Foundation.

Victorino was joined by numerous celebrities at his Celebrity Golf Classic that included among others, Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies; Raeceen Woolford, Miss Hawaii 2009; Mark Rolfing, NBC Golf Analyst; Roy Yamaguchi, Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur; Augie T, Comedian; Chad Gaudin, New York Yankees; Ryan Howard, NL MVP, Philadelphia Phillies All-Star; Howard Dashefsky, UH Collegiate World Series Team Member; Huston Street, Colorado Rockies; Brandon League, Toronto Blue Jays; Neil Everett, ESPN Sports Center Anchor and event Celebrity Emcee.

About Shane Victorino
Known as "The Flyin' Hawaiian" for his intense style of play and lightning speed, Maui's own Shane Victorino recently finished his fifth season with MLB's Philadelphia Phillies. In 2009, Shane and his Phillies' teammates earned their third straight NL East championship and advanced to their second consecutive World Series. The 5'9" dynamo again elevated his play, earning an All-Star appearance, setting new career-highs in nearly every statistical category. Following the Phillies' 2008 World Series victory, Victorino was honored with a Gold Glove for his outstanding play.

The civic-minded Victorino was recently presented the 2009 Phi Delta Theta International Lou Gehrig Memorial Award given annually to the MLB player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. In addition, he is a member of the Philadelphia Action Team, a national young volunteer initiative by the MLB Trust and Volunteers of America and is featured in a national ad campaign promoting volunteerism. Last year, Shane established the Shane Victorino Celebrity Golf Tournament in Maui to give back to the Hawaii community.

Born Shane Patrick Victorino, the 29-year-old is a native of Maui, Hawaii, where he was a four-sport prep all-star at St. Anthony's High School. Shane is engaged to Melissa Smith. The couple are proud parents of Keenan and Kali'a. Shane recently created his official website, www.shanevictorino.com.

About Makena Beach & Golf Resort
Makena Beach & Golf Resort is situated on 1,800 acres of the southern shore of Maui in the Makena district of the island. The property offers 310 guestrooms and suites, each featuring private lanais, and commands sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, as well as vistas of Maui's diverse landscape and the 10,000-foot Mount Haleakala.

The resort also features championship golf on the acclaimed Makena Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 18-hole course that runs along the Pacific coastline, adjacent to the hotel. With stunning views from nearly every hole, the course is renowned for its ancient Hawaiian rock walls, natural gullies and stream beds, which were incorporated into the course's design. Makena Beach & Golf Resort is operated by Benchmark Hospitality International.