Shane Battier speaks about his event and why he chose to stay in Miami after retirement
Shane Battier’s annual Battioke event is taking on a new identity this year.
Instead of the karaoke-themed charity event Battier usually organizes, he’s teaming up with his wife, Heidi, to put on “Cabernet with Battier” to help raise money for The Battier Take Charge Foundation. The “Cabernet with Battier” event takes place Saturday at Byblos in Miami Beach.
The event will begin with a full wine tasting and it will be followed by a dinner for 100.
The cause? To raise money for The Battier Take Charge Foundation, a non-profit organization established by the Battier family to fund college scholarships and educational opportunities for underprivileged youth.
“I have three loves outside of my family and basketball in this world. It’s karaoke, golf and wine,” said Battier, a former Heat forward and the current Heat vice president of basketball development and analytics. “So the inspiration hit us probably on a night with a second bottle of a nice red that, ‘You know what, we should have a really nice high-end wine event to raise money for the foundation.’ We always pride ourselves on having amazing action-packed fun events around Battier Take Charge Foundation. So, we’re checking this one off the list.”
But there will still be some karaoke, with guests joining the Battiers in Byblos’ private event suite for a karaoke-themed after party.
“Everywhere I go in South Florida, people always ask me about Battioke and if I’m still doing it,” Battier said. “So Battioke is such a part of our lure that we can never get away from it. I’m sure there will be a couple songs of karaoke during Cabernet with Battioke.”
The Battier Take Charge Foundation’s annual events have raised over $2 million in the past decade. The Take Charge Scholars Program has awarded four-year, $20,000 college scholarships to 37 students in Miami, Houston and Detroit.
Also, the foundation’s high school-focused GUIDE Program, which informs students about educational opportunities and gives them the tools and support they need to earn their high school diploma, has awarded 39 scholarships to students at Miami Central High School.
“We’re so blessed to have so many amazing kids and students in our program, especially the kids at Miami Central who are in our scholarship program and our mentorship program,” Battier said. “After you spend time with them, it’s a lot of work to throw a fundraiser, but it’s so worth it to be able to see the development and the growth and the passion of our students. It is a labor of love, but it’s one we do willingly for a greater cause.”
Battier, 41, has become connected with South Florida. He first arrived to Miami when he signed with the Heat prior to the 2011-12 season, winning two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 before retiring following the 2013-14 season, and he hasn’t left since.
“Until they kick us out, we are Miamians. It’s home,” Battier said. “There’s nothing like landing at [Miami International Airport] and knowing that this is the place we call home. We have so many tremendous friends here and obviously I have a deep relationship with the Heat organization, and our foundation has helped so many in this community. So, it is home in every sense of the word.
“I didn’t know what my life was going to look like after I retired from basketball. But it was really an easy choice for us to stay after I retired and be a part of this community.”
For more information on “Cabernet with Battier” tickets, visit https://takechargefoundation.org/cabernet/. Those who can’t make it to the event can still donate to the Battier Take Charge Foundation by clicking here.
This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 11:20 AM.
