Hudson, Mraz and Tenors added to Children’s Grand Slam

The Foundation is all about improving public education. In Las Vegas the Foundation’s signature project – the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy – pretty much functions as the name implies by preparing school kids for college. On a broader scale the Foundation also works to improve public education in general, not only in Las Vegas but throughout the U.S. Since the very first Grand Slam event in 1995 the Foundation has raised close to $85 million.

Hosted by tennis star Agassi and presented by Genworth Financial, this year’s Grand Slam is scheduled for Oct. 9 at Wynn Las Vegas. However, the ticket packages are not for those whose wallets are on life support. After all, this is a charity event featuring, along with the music performances, a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner and live auction attracting some awfully big high rollers. If you think concert tickets at your local arena or amphitheatre are too high, you might want to stop reading right now.

Otherwise, grab your nitro pills and make sure the portable defibrillator is within arms reach.

As you might expect, this close to the Oct. 9 date some of the packages offered for this event are already sold out. So you can forget about the Silver sponsorship package that included a table for 10, a gift and keepsake for each person, valet parking and the aforementioned entertainment and and other events. That option, priced at $10,000, is sold out.

But there are other sponsorships available beginning at the Gold level which, in addition to everything Silver had to offer, also includes 10 invitations to the unveiling of the commemorative 2010 Grand Slam for Children artwork on Oct. 8 and a one half-page acknowledgement in the keepsake program. Price? $17,500.

But that’s hardly the top of the pricing mountain. Not when the Platinum sponsorship package carries a $40,000 sticker and the Diamond package, which includes a two-night stay at Wynn Las Vegas during the Grand Slam Weekend, goes for $85,000.

However, if Diamond is the way you want to go, you’ll have to wait until next year. That package had to be purchased by Aug. 21.

Of course, this is a major charity event and it is in Las Vegas where high rollers drop more than $85,000 just walking from a casino’s gaming tables to the restroom.  So the usual Grand Slam audience member is hardly your run-of-the-mill nine-to-fiver.

For more information on the 15th annual Grand Slam For Children as well as the Andre Agassi Foundation, please click here for the organization’s website. That is, after you’re through with the defibrillator.