Through the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Florida raised $750,000 for the Ukraine Relief Fund this week. Proceeds of the event, hosted by former championship boxer Wladimir Klitschko, will benefit victims of the Ukraine War.
Seminole Gaming Chief Operating Officer David Hoenemeyer thanked guests that attended the event, and addressed Klitschko.
“I saw you fight live many times,” Hoenemeyer told the boxer during the fundraiser. “I respect you as a fighter and most of all, after tonight, as a human being for what you are doing for your country.”
The fundraiser was attended by nearly 1,000 guests who raised the most money ever for a charity event organized by the Hard Rock Heals Foundation. Live and silent auction items included a pair of track shoes donated by Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt and a pair of boxing gloves autographed and donated by former world champion boxer Evander Holyfield, who also was in attendance. Holyfield donated a one-hour in-ring boxing lesson as part of the boxing gloves live auction package, which sold at auction for $6,000.
“Thank you for all the feelings and the empathy that you are giving us in Ukraine,” Klitschko said. “All the funds that are raised are going to help us in Ukraine to overcome these challenging times.”
