Photo/Paul Kim

Musician Mat Kearney, Band Switchfoot and Basketball Legend Rick Barry Are Among the Celebrities Set to Play in NEEDTOBREATHE Classic

 A number of musicians, sports legends and actors are expected to grab their golf clubs for a good cause as they participate in the fourth annual NEEDTOBREATHE Classic golf tournament on Monday, March 21 at the Daniel Island Club. 

Musician Mat Kearney, alternative rock band Switchfoot, PGA player Russell Henley, actor Kevin Sorbo, basketball legend Rick Barry known for his underhand free-throw shooting technique, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Adam Humphries are some of the celebrities expected to play in the tournament. 

This annual event benefits Palmetto Medical Initiative, which builds self-sustaining medical clinics in areas dramatically in need of affordable, quality health care. The 2015 tournament netted $110,000 for PMI’s work in Nicaragua and Uganda. 

This one-of-kind event features a day of golf on both the nationally ranked Beresford and Ralston Creek courses followed by an after-party concert with NEEDTOBREATHE and friends. NEEDTOBREATHE band members Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart, Seth Bolt and Josh Lovelace are long-time supporters of PMI. Four years ago, they partnered with Commonwealth Cares Foundation – the charitable arm of Commonwealth Financial Group on Daniel Island – to lend their name to the foundation’s annual charity golf tournament. 

In addition to the golf tournament, South Carolina-based NEEDTOBREATHE also donates $1 from every concert it headlines back to PMI. Last year, the band’s charitable efforts raised $250,000 for PMI, which will be used to construct the first NEEDTOBREATHE Clinic in Tola, Nicaragua. 

“We believe that music can be a vehicle for change,” Bear Rinehart said. “We have seen first-hand the impact PMI has in these countries. We are blessed and feel a responsibility to share our blessings with a world in need of quality medical care – something we too often take for granted.” 

The band is prepping up for a new studio album and North American tour later in 2016. Their most recent album, critically acclaimed “Rivers In the Wasteland,” released in 2014 and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. 

Others expected to play in the tournament include:

  • American Authors, American indie rock band based in New York City
  • Tajih Boyd, former Clemson University quarterback and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
  • Mark Bryan, founding member of Hootie & the Blowfish
  • Rick Carone, former MLB player
  • Matt Diaz, former MLB player
  • Debbe Dunning, actress
  • Drew Holcomb, musician
  • John Mark McMillan, musician
  • Jim Sonefeld, founding member of Hootie & the Blowfish
  • Tyler Thigpen, first quarterback to play for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team 

Registration begins at 9 a.m. the day of the tournament with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Golfers can select from an individual golfer option, a standard foursome experience or a celebrity foursome experience. To register or for more information, visit www.commonwealthcares.org

About Commonwealth Cares Foundation
Founded in 2007, Commonwealth Cares Foundation is the charitable arm of Commonwealth Financial Group, a Daniel Island-based comprehensive financial services firm with a division focused on providing financial planning services to physicians and the medical community. Commonwealth also has offices in Orangeburg and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Raleigh, N.C. The firm brings a values-based philosophy, offering clients independent advice through a consultative, team-oriented approach. For more information, call 888-858-5213 or visitwww.commonwealthfg.com

About NEEDTOBREATHE

NEEDTOBREATHE is a Grammy-nominated, American Rock 'n' Roll Band from South Carolina, effortlessly woven from the musical traditions and faith of their upbringing in the Deep South of the United States. Made up of brothers Bear Rinehart (vocals, guitar) and Bo Rinehart (guitar, vocals), Seth Bolt (bass, vocals) and Josh Lovelace (keys, vocals), the band hit their big break in 2005 when they signed to Atlantic/Word Records. The career to follow would include five full studio albums, chart-topping cross-genre success, multiple headlining tours and media coverage on “CONAN,” “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” CBS, MTV, FOX and much more. The band's critically acclaimed album “Rivers In the Wasteland” released in 2014 and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The band is currently in the studio working on their sixth studio album.