PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mark Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is pleased to announce that Cassadee Pope, winner of NBC's The Voice, will perform at the Trump Invitational which presents $100,000 in prize money to the riders and is an internationally-rated show jumping event on Sunday, January 6, at The Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL. Pope, who is from Wellington, Florida, will help give back to her local community by performing at the event, which benefits the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge (FTI GCC). The FTI GCC raises and distributes over a million dollars to local charities. Pope will be singing to open the festivities as well as performing the event's national anthem before the start of competition.
“After her well-deserved win on The Voice, Cassadee's popularity has skyrocketed,” said Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo. “Despite great demands for her time, she chose to support her local community and to support the FTI GCC charity event. It speaks volumes of her character. An amazing talent, we are very proud of her accomplishments and excited to have her at the Trump Invitational. We can't wait to hear her sing in person.”
Watch Cassadee Pope singing “Over You”:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjfWYKe3baU
Pope said, “Wellington and the Palm Beach County community have been so supportive of me and this is an opportunity to give back to the charities in the area. It means a great deal to me, and I'm looking forward to contributing to the event.” Pope is a graduate of Wellington High School. Wellington High School was a member of the 2012 FTI GCC first place charity (Wellington PTO/PTAs) which received $150,000 that was distributed to Wellington’s twelve public schools.
Watch Cassadee Pope singing “Are You Happy Now”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6fbFvb2GmU
The FTI GCC raises and distributes over one million dollars annually for 32 lucky Palm Beach County charities in a pro-am team equestrian competition, taking place this year on January 26 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington. The FTI GCC event was founded by Mark Bellissimo and his daughter Paige, and has raised and distributed over $2.7 million over the last three years. The event is targeting to raise $1.3 million this year, making a total contribution of $4 million to 68 charities in the four-year history of the class.
Mar-a-Lago, the former Marjorie Merriweather Post Estate purchased and restored by Trump in 1985, is one of the most spectacular mansions in the world and in the national register of historic places and a designated U.S National Landmark. The $100,000 Trump Invitational will be the first ever equestrian event held on Palm Beach Island and will serve as an exciting kick-off to the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the 12-week circuit that runs at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on January 9 - March 31, 2013.
For purchases of charity tables for the event please email Anne Caroline Valtin at annecaroline@equestriansport.com.
More on the 2013 FTI GCC, including sponsor and charity information, and other exciting news can be found at www.ftigreatcharitychallenge.com and their Facebook page (FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge).
CASSADEE POPE made history as the first female winner of NBC's The Voice. However, she's not stopping there. After three years touring nationally as the front woman for Hey Monday, POPE formally began her solo career, releasing an independent EP and then competing on The Voice. The next chapter begins with the release of her highly anticipated full-length debut for Republic Records in 2013.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) has 12 weeks of world class competition running from January 9 through March 31, 2013. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. All 12 weeks are "AA" rated and Jumper Rated 6, with approximately $7 million in prize money awarded. Please visit www.equestriansport.com for more information.