San Francisco to Celebrate Tony Bennett with Statue, Benefit Concert This August

In recognition of internationally renowned singer, painter and civic leader Tony Bennett's contributions to San Francisco, the City will honor him with several tributes celebrating his 90th birthday.

The festivities will begin with a free, public dedication and unveiling of the 8-foot-tall bronze statue of Mr. Bennett atop Nob Hill on the lawn of Fairmont San Francisco on Friday, August 19 at noon; festivities start at 11:30 a.m. Friday evening, the World Champion San Francisco Giants will pay tribute to the legend with "Tony Bennett Night" as they take on the New York Mets.

The weekend's events culminate on Saturday, August 20 with a benefit dinner and concert in Fairmont San Francisco's famous Venetian Room where he first performed I Left My Heart in San Francisco in public. Proceeds from the evening will support The Tony Bennett Fund for Emergency Pediatric Care at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and the San Francisco Special Events Committee.

For more information about the free, public dedication and unveiling visit the official Facebook event page. For tickets and details about the benefit dinner and concert, call (415) 554-5257.

"Tony Bennett and San Francisco are inseparable. A statue of a great American performing artist usually happens in the birthplace of the artist. Throughout the world, people associate San Francisco as being Tony Bennett's home for one reason and one reason only - his signature song I Left My Heart in San Francisco. This 8-foot-tall statue on the greens of Fairmont San Francisco says to the world: Tony Bennett is home," proclaimed former Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr.

The brief program and festivities proceeding the public dedication and unveiling will feature Tony Bennett, Mayor Edwin M. Lee, former Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr., San Francisco Giants' CEO Larry Baer, Regional Vice President & General Manager of Fairmont San Francisco, Paul Tormey, Chief of Protocol, City and County of San Francisco and State of California, Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, San Francisco Boys Chorus, San Francisco Girls Chorus and SFJAZZ High School All Stars Combo.

"On behalf of Mayor Ed Lee and the San Francisco Special Events Committee, I am proud to be a part of the incredible events honoring the City and my friend, the incomparable Tony Bennett!" said California and San Francisco Chief of Protocol Charlotte Shultz. Adding, "We look forward to seeing many of Tony's fans from all over the Bay Area at the dedication."

Bay Area sculptor Bruce Wolfe began work on the 8-foot-tall bronze statue at the beginning of the year and is currently putting the finishing touches on the sculpture in his studio in Piedmont, California. Mr. Wolfe has also created statues of Willie L. Brown, Jr., George P. Shultz, Steve Silver and Harvey Milk. The statue was funded by private contributions to the San Francisco Special Events Committee.

"Tony Bennett has created a beautiful harmony with the Bay Area and our landmark hotel over the years. Fairmont San Francisco is honored to serve as the "home" for this spectacular statue that celebrates his amazing relationship with this city and our iconic property," said Paul Tormey, Regional Vice President & General Manager of Fairmont San Francisco.

The Tony Bennett Day celebration on Friday, August 19th will continue that evening at AT&T Park when the San Francisco Giants take on the New York Mets. The Giants will honor Tony in a pre-game ceremony and throughout the game. Tony is also to perform "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" for the fans.

In December 1961, Mr. Bennett first sang I Left My Heart in San Francisco in the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Room. The song has gone on to become one of the City by the Bay's official anthems. The benefit on Saturday, August 20 begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a lavish dinner at 7:30 p.m. by Fairmont San Francisco's renowned culinary team. The evening culminates with a concert featuring Mr. Bennett and his orchestra and benefits The Tony Bennett Fund for Emergency Pediatric Care at Zuckerberg San Francisco General [ZSFG] and the San Francisco Special Events Committee.

Proceeds from the evening will establish The Tony Bennett Fund for Emergency Pediatric Care at ZSFG and will help make every child's emergency care experience uniquely caring, calm and safe. 42,000 children receive care at ZSFG clinics every year and 12,000 come through the Emergency Department. The fund will provide resources for medical professionals to best comfort and care for children when they need it most. A plaque in honor of the fund will be prominently displayed in the Pediatric Playroom on the 2nd floor of the recently opened Zuckerberg San Francisco General. This room is an important component of the 2nd floor pediatrics unit and is designed to reduce the stress a child can feel in a hospital environment. Children who are well enough can engage in therapeutic play activity with toys and games as well as interact with siblings or other patients.

No one in popular American music has recorded for so long and at such a high level of excellence as Tony Bennett. The 19-time Grammy Award winner has transcended generations, and is a significant contributor to the canon of influential American songs of the 20th century.

His chart-toppers include "Because of You," "Rags to Riches," and his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." His artistry and popularity spans seven decades, among the longest tenures in American music. His 2006 and 2011 releases of Duets and Duets II, respectively, included performances with Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Bono, Lady Gaga and the late Amy Winehouse.

Mr. Bennett was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and became a Kennedy Center honoree in 2005. A celebrated painter, three of his original works are housed in the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Collection.

Born in Queens, N.Y., in 1926, Mr. Bennett served in the Army during World War II and marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma during the civil rights movement. A dedicated humanitarian, he has raised millions of dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. In 1999, he and his wife, Susan Benedetto, founded Exploring the Arts to strengthen the role of the arts in public education. Today, ETA has partnerships with 23 public high schools in New York City and Los Angeles.

Since 1907, The Fairmont has served as the San Francisco residence for U.S. presidents, world leaders and entertainment stars. The landmark hotel offers 592 newly-renovated guest rooms and suites, three distinctive restaurants, a health club and easy access to the city's most popular attractions. Fairmont San Francisco is located atop Nob Hill at 950 Mason Street. For reservations, call 800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com/san-francisco.

San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (the Foundation) is an independent, 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that provides philanthropic support to Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (Zuckerberg San Francisco General). The Foundation is dedicated to promoting excellence in research, education and care for all at Zuckerberg San Francisco General. Funds raised by the Foundation allow Zuckerberg San Francisco General to continue its long history of providing compassionate and high quality health care to San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. Some of the programs funded wholly or in part by the Foundation include the Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Center, Children's Health Center, HIV/AIDS Division Positive Health Program, Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit, HIVE - formerly Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center (BAPAC) and the Orthopaedic Trauma Institute. For more information, visit SFGHF.org and Facebook.

The committee's mission is to plan, support and implement San Francisco City and County related special events that have cultural and civic importance. The committee was established in 1986 and has funded the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, Herb Caen Day, the 1906 Earthquake & Fire Centennial Commemoration and the 50th Anniversary of the debut of Tony Bennett's I Left My Heart in San Francisco to name a few.

Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, part of the San Francisco Health Network, is an essential component of San Francisco's health care system serving over 108,000 patients each year and providing 20 percent of the city's inpatient care. Recognized as one of the nation's top hospitals, it serves the community with a full complement of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, diagnostic and psychiatric services for adults and children 24-hours a day. Zuckerberg San Francisco General is San Francisco's safety net hospital, the city's only trauma center and a top academic medical center, with medical staff from the faculty of internationally-renowned UCSF. More information is available at www.zuckerbergsanfranciscogeneral.org.

Photo Credit: Bryan Adams/Trunk Archive About Tony Bennett

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