Champion of Charity

Andre Agassi says it's not easy, signing up stars to perform during his fundraising concert, "Grand Slam for Children."

"For a while there, I thought I'd be up onstage playing the spoons," he says. "You spend your whole year worrying" if celebrities will donate their time to appear here.

But stars always jump aboard, and this year's lineup offers The Killers, Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, David Spade and Ray Romano.

This year, though, "Grand Slam" performances come with two big changes.

First, the charity concert moves from its mainstay, the MGM Grand Garden arena, to a smaller Wynn Las Vegas room that will fit 180 tables or so.

Second, that means you can't buy cheap tickets to sit in regular-people seats. Instead, you (or a corporation) must buy a seat at one of those tables. Available table sponsorships cost from $17,500 to $80,000.

Agassi used to say he was proud to offer low ticket prices to the general public at the MGM Grand. Now, he says he's a little bummed out the event is an expensive, exclusive night on the town.

"It's a bit of a heartbreak for me. But at the same time, my obligation, and where the rubber meets the road, is where the kids are best off" financially, he says.

MGM was a great partner for the organization, he says, but a financial policy change at MGM made it more financially attractive to move to Wynn. Last year, the event raised $9.1 million. Losing the cheap seat ticket sales will cut as much as $500,000 from fundraising. But that money will be made up through sponsorships, Agassi hopes.

My question to Agassi: Did he entertain offers from the Palms' George Maloof or any other hotels to host "Grand Slam"?

"I grew up in Steve's house," Agassi responds. "We go back so far. We've been friends with (the Wynn family). So it just felt like coming home in many respects."

Agassi says the economic downturn is hurting the Agassi Foundation and everyone else in "the giving world."

"It's tough out there for us all," he says. "But the truth is, we have sold a lot of tables."

Selling tables is serious business. Since 1995, the event has raised $70 million for the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, which funds local children's organizations and the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in a poverty-hit block on West Lake Mead Boulevard.

"Success is not defined this year by how much we raise, even though we will raise a lot. It's going to be defined by celebrating the partnerships that have been there for us through thick and thin, and who have been there for these children for these times.

"I think it's gonna be an escape for people," Agassi says. "I think people are gonna come out a bit like after 9/11. It's time to give ourselves a boost of spirit here, and hopefully they'll feel celebrated."

Doug Elfman's column appears Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Contact him at 702-383-0391 or delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.