MIAMI, March 19th – Held this past Saturday night, the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund raised over $1.1 million at its benefit, “A Knight with the Champions”. This year’s event featured a performance by Grammy Award Winner Gladys Knight and took place at Shaquille and Shaunie O’Neal’s residence on Star Island. Miami HEAT players and coaches, as well as celebrities such as Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Jerry Bruckheimer, were in attendance.

The evening was highlighted by a last minute surprise performance, when Pat Riley, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and Gloria Estefan joined Gladys Knight on stage to sing “Midnight Train to Georgia”. At the end of the evening, the guests received both a commemorative basketball, signed by the 2006 Championship Miami HEAT team and a premium Tumi gift bag, which featured such high-end items as Phillip Stein watches and $150 gift certificates to Morton’s Steakhouse.

The Miami HEAT Charitable Fund was established in 1997 and is comprised of the Miami HEAT players, coaches, wives and staff. Establishing its presence in the South Florida community, the HEAT “family” has been able to generate critical dollars through unique fundraising programs for the betterment of at risk families.

At this time, the primary beneficiaries for the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund are Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels, which supports the Holtz Center for seriously ill children, SafeSpace, a domestic violence shelter for women and their children, and the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community, a broadly based community organization committed to reducing the problems of drug abuse, addiction, and directly related social issues.

The Miami HEAT Charitable Fund sends a special thanks out to Morton’s and Levi Restaurants, Southern Wine and Spirits and all gift bag contributors, who helped make this a special evening for all involved.