Philanthropy

July 16-18, 1999

After a whirlwind week of post production, Five Star Productions completed a half-hour, behind-the-scenes look at Miami Heat star Alonzo "Zo" Mourning's July 16-18 Miami charity event. The star-studded special debuted on Miami's WAMI network. The special will also air multiple times on the Sunshine Network.

The "Zo's Summer Groove III" TV special opens with a humorous, almost entirely improvised exchange between Mourning and Robert Wuhl, star of HBO's Arliss.

Five Star's production crews got an early jump on the show, following Mourning from breakfast in his kitchen to him beating the pavement to promote the event on South Florida radio stations.

Also included in the special are interviews with Heat coach Pat Riley, comic Sinbad - who performed at the "Mega Groove" concert, sportscaster Bob Costas - who emceed the "Evening in Paradise" banquet and auction, boxing champ Evander Holyfield - who purchased a pair of Porsche Boxsters for a cool $200,000 at the auction, and HBO star Robert Wuhl, as well as other NBA star players and entertainers. Alonzo's wife and TV personality, Tracy Mourning serves as a correspondent for the interviews, which are interspersed between footage from the concert, banquet, and All Star Jam basketball game.

Aside from the special's entertainment glitz, Alonzo takes time out to pay tribute to Fanny Threet, the woman who raised him in foster care, and the inspiration for his success and dedication to his community. A touching segment has Zo reciting Rudyard Kipling's poem, "If". The dramatic segment combines his reading with childhood images and images of his community involvement.

Five Star Productions, long known for its commitment to benefiting the community, donated the entirety of its services for the special. Additionally, Five Star president Scott Woolley purchased a Harley Davidson Motorcycle and an autographed pool table at the auction, which benefited the Children's Home Society and One Hundred Black Men of South Florida.

February 17, 1999

More than 500 people gathered for the black-tie affair to help support the third annual, "Waiter, There's Puck in My Soup" gala event. Each year, the event hosted by the Florida Panthers' Wives, supports a local community organization. This year the event earned more than $50,000 for the Children's Harbor Organization and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Scott Woolley, President of Five Star Productions, supported the event and its causes by donating two autographed pieces to the event's auction. During the dinner a live auction took place where Woolley's donated Garth Brooks, Academy-award winning country singer, signed acoustic guitar caused a bidding frenzy. The donated piece earned more than $6,000 alone for the two organizations.

The gala event was held at the Boca Raton Resort and Club on Thursday, February 17, 1999. Accompanying Woolley at the event was John Dzuro, Vice President and Director of Operations; Claudia Johnson, Vice President and Product Manager; Jennifer Palumbo McFarland, Vice President and Director of Public Relations; Diane Papa, Vice President and Director or Human Resources; and Mark Wazowicz, Producer.

October 10, 1999

Five Star supports efforts to protect the world's endangered animals and delicate eco-systems. To that end we produced a video presentation to tell the story of this brave and remarkable organization whose ship is sailing the seas to prevent the senseless slaughter of seals and other sea-life that is being hunted and fished out of existence. Sea Shepherd used the video to raise money and support for their efforts.

Established in 1977 by Captain Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is an international non-profit, direct-action organization whose mission is to defend, conserve, and protect the world's marine wilderness eco-systems and marine wildlife species. Sea Shepherd is committed to the eradication of pirate whaling, poaching, shark-finning, unlawful habitat destruction, and violations of established laws in the World's oceans.

Five Star is proud to be able to contribute to these efforts and will continue to find ways to protect the eco-system we all depend on.

September 29, 1999

On September 29, the Five Star team showed up in strength to support one of our favorite teams: The Florida Panthers. Five Star president Scott Woolley purchased a table at the Panthers' "Game On" banquet, inviting employees to share in the evening. The annual event supports the Florida Panthers Foundation. The Foundation, in turn, supports other charities.

Prior to the dinner, players were available to sign autographs for eager fans. Later, Panthers players dined with the attendees, with one player at each table. The Five Star team was accompanied by Panthers Defenseman, Brett Hedican.

Inside the NHL host, and the television voice of the Panthers, Jeff Rimer, emceed the event.