NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., January 28, 2026 --- The Hoag Classic, in partnership with premier sports representation and marketing agency Athletes First, announced today that Pacific Life will partner with two marquee events launching Hoag Classic Week 2026 – Athletes First Celebrity Waiter Night, presented by Pacific Life, benefiting Hoag Hospital Foundation, and as the title sponsor of the Pacific Life Celebrity Classic, a one-day celebrity golf tournament returning for its second year.
“Pacific Life has been a proud sponsor of the Hoag Classic for many years,” said Kevin Kennedy, SVP, chief sales and marketing officer, Consumer Markets, Pacific Life. “We are excited to deepen our involvement this year as the title sponsor of the Pacific Life Celebrity Classic, continuing the event’s meaningful tradition and celebrating philanthropy, community impact, and the spirit of the game.”
The weekend will kick off on Saturday, March 21, 2026, with the Athletes First Celebrity Waiter Night, presented by Pacific Life, benefitting Hoag Hospital Foundation, hosted at VEA Newport Beach. The event will feature elite Athletes First clients trading their jerseys for aprons to become “waiters for the night” – all to raise critical funds and awareness for charity. This marquee event has featured an extraordinary lineup of current and former professional athletes and NFL stars, including Saquon Barkley, Cooper DeJean, Derrick Henry, Jordan Love, Puka Nacua, Dak Prescott, Jalen Ramsey, Fred Warner, and NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson, among many others. Proceeds from the event will benefit 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.
“The goals of the Pacific Life Celebrity Classic and Athletes First Celebrity Waiter Night have always been to bring together members of the Athletes First family to create meaningful impact in our community. We’re thrilled to have Pacific Life join as a sponsor of both events as we kick off Hoag Classic Week, and to continue supporting Hoag’s mission to expand care and services for Orange County,” said Brian Murphy, CEO & President of Athletes First.
On Sunday, March 22, 2026, the Pacific Life Celebrity Classic, formerly known as the Newport Beach Celebrity Classic, returns with its second edition at Newport Beach Country Club. The celebrity charity golf tournament will once again bring together more than 70 professional athletes and well-known personalities to kick off Hoag Classic week while supporting the tournament’s broader mission of giving back to the community in meaningful ways. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and tee times will begin at 11a.m., offering fans an up-close opportunity to watch well-known athletes compete in a fun, competitive setting.
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