NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 26, 2026 --- Kicking off the 2026 Hoag Classic tournament week, the Athletes First Celebrity Waiter Night, presented by Pacific Life, and the Pacific Life Celebrity Classic raised funds for Hoag, making a meaningful impact to expand care and services for Orange County.
The weekend of celebrity events brought together more than 70 current and former professional athletes and celebrities for philanthropy and friendly competition in Newport Beach.
On Saturday, March 21, the Athletes First Celebrity Waiter Night, presented by Pacific Life, transformed the VEA Newport Beach into a lively charitable evening as Athletes First clients traded their jerseys for aprons to become “waiters for the night.” The event featured a star-studded lineup including Houston QB CJ Stroud, San Francisco LB Fred Warner, Baltimore RB Derrick Henry, Indianapolis QB Daniel Jones, NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson, and ESPN broadcaster Ryan Clark, among others, who volunteered their time to support Hoag Hospital Foundation’s Boldly Hoag campaign, a fundraising effort to expand Hoag’s Sun Family Campus in Irvine and enhance care for the growing Orange County community, while giving guests of the event an up-close and personal interaction with their favorite athletes.
The celebration continued Sunday, March 22 as more than 70 professional athletes and celebrities took to Newport Beach Country Club for the Pacific Life Celebrity Classic, the second annual celebrity golf tournament held ahead of the PGA TOUR Champions Hoag Classic. After a competitive day on the course, Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy and Kansas City QB Jake Haener captured the 2026 Pacific Life Celebrity Classic title, earning bragging rights among a field of high-profile athletes and celebrities. Participants this year included Philadelphia RB Saquon Barkley, Pro Bowl WR Odell Beckham Jr., Indianapolis QB Daniel Jones, Philadelphia DB Cooper DeJean, Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Former All-Pro WR and broadcaster Steve Smith, Sr., Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles, and Baseball legend Jim Abbott, among others.
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