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New York—Consumer Electronics giant-Samsung Electronics America held its fifth annual Four Seasons of Hope gala event at Tavern on the Green, on June 22, here in New York City. The Four Seasons of Hope program has brought together athletes and their charitable causes with major retailers to raise awareness and funds for worthwhile causes.

Five years ago, Samsung began the Four Seasons of Hope with four athletes: football's Boomer Esiason and the Boomer Esiason Foundation to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis, baseball's Joe Torre and the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, basketball's Earvin “Magic” Johnson and The Magic Johnson Foundation, and golf's Arnold Palmer and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women—and partnered each with a retailer: Circuit City, Comp USA, Best Buy, and Sears.

In recent years, additional celebrities and their charities have been added to the Four Seasons of Hope including: rocker Jon Bon Jovi and his charities: action aids, 2 nd floor, Inn Dwelling, and the Police Athletic League; hockey's great one, Wayne Gretzky and The Wayne Gretzky Foundation; former NYC mayor, Rudy Giuliani and his charitable efforts on behalf of St. Vincent's Catholic Medical centers; and this year's addition of football's Dan Marino and The Dan Marino Foundation which funds research and treatment for childhood autism. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw provided the musical entertainment for the gala event; and their charity Neighbor's Keeper will also benefit from funds raised. Neighbor's keeper benefits victims of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

The charitable causes are close to the hearts of the athletes and celebrities who work to raise awareness, while helping children. Football's Esiason and Marino launched their foundations to raise funds for research and the special care needed for chronically ill children; such as Esiason's son Gunner, who was born with Cystic Fibrosis, and one of Marino's sons, who suffers from autism. The personalities have been able to use their voices to bring attention to a range of causes that benefit children and communities in need.

To date, Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope program has raised more than seven million dollars for its charities. Peter Weedfald, senior VP for Samsung Electronics America said, “Samsung looks forward to being able to support these kinds of charitable efforts for years to come.” During the musical performance, Tim McGraw reminded attendees that, “giving back is not a choice,” but something that everyone must do.

For more information about Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope, check out the website at www.fourseasonsofhope.com