It's time for the Miami Heat players to put the basketballs aside and pick up the microphones for a good cause.
Retired Miami Heat player Shane Battier will be hosting the fourth annual "South Beach Battioke" charity event March 3 at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore Theatre in Miami Beach, it was announced Tuesday.
The celebrity karaoke party will benefit Battier's Take Charge Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Battier and his wife, Heidi. The foundation has partnerships with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, KIPP Academy in Houston and Horizons-Upward Bound in Detroit to help awards scholarship for children in those cities.
"We are proud that we have been able to engage our community and send brilliant young minds to colleges and universities through the fundraising efforts of South Beach Battioke," Battier said in a press release. "This will be our fourth year putting together the most authentic and entertaining event in South Florida. I am extremely thankful to the Heat organization and everyone that supports us including my former teammates that come out and sing karaoke for charity."
Last year's Battioke was a huge success with the move to the more expansive Fillmore Theatre. Over 600 people attended the star-studded event and more than $300,000 was raised.
"Our partnership with the Battier Take Charge Foundation means the world to us here at Big Brothers Big Sisters," said Deborah Perez, continuing education manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters. "The commitment the Foundation has to our youth is invaluable and in partnership, we are helping to develop the next generation of 'Champions.'"
This is a rare chance to catch Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Chris Andersen and many of your favorite Heat players singing along to the latest tunes.
Advance tickets for the event can be purchased for $175 and are available at www.takechargefoundation.org. The first 100 tickets sold will also come with a personalized Battier autograph. Tickets sold on the day of the event will be $250. Admission price also includes an open bar and a variety of food from some of the top eateries in the area.
Here are some of the "highlights" from last year's event to whet your appetite.
Those who can't attend but would like to donate to the Take Charge Foundation can do so by clicking here.
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.
