Lewis Black Invitational Golf Tournament

The fourth annual Lewis Black Invitational benefiting The Luv u Project will be held April 12 – 15, 2026 at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain in beautiful Arizona.  This incredible event will be filled with much laughter, unique golf outings and lots of luv!  Request your invitation for the 2026 event!

2026 Event Schedule

2026 Golf Participant Package Includes:

$6,000 ($2,225 Tax Deductible)

• Roundtrip, coach-class airfare
• 3 nights of hotel accommodations at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Arizona
• Ground transportation to and from the airport
• Arrival day Golf Clinic and Exhibition with Peter Kostis 
• Two days of first-class, fun golf at Dove Mountain Golf Courses
• All meals and beverages (Sunday night through Wednesday morning)
• Entertainment by award-winning comedians

Social Guest Participants are welcome too!  All the fun, minus the golf!  Social Guest packages are $3,000 ($1,000 Tax Deductible).  There are planned activities for social guests!

For questions about the 2026 event, please contact Leah Bell at lbell@theluvuproject.org.

Sponsorship packages can be customized based on the number of golf packages needed.  Please contact Leah Bell at lbell@theluvuproject.org to find out more about available 2026 sponsorship packages.

Big Thank you to our 2026 sponsors:

Masters Party – Cathy & Rick Roche

Comedy Dinner – The Huggins Family

Closing Night Dessert Party – Helen Johnson

Golf Clinic – ICS Corporation

Social Guest Activity Sponsor – Gayle & Bill Greenberg

Social Guest Activity Sponsor – Lesa Hopkins

Reception Sponsor – First National Bank

Known as the King of Rant, LEWIS BLACK uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin. His comedic brilliance lies in his ability to make people laugh at the absurdities of life, with topics that include current events, social media, politics and anything else that exposes the hypocrisy and madness he sees in the world.

Receiving critical acclaim as a stand-up, actor and author, Black has performed for audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In 2012, he performed eight sell-out shows at Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. Since 2014 Lewis Black has done over 400 live streaming shows, called THE RANT IS DUE, at the end of each of his standup performances. Adding his own unique style, Lewis delivers audience-written Rants which have been submitted from the fans at his show and throughout the world.  These rants are now available on Lewis Black’s podcast, Rant Cast.

Born in Washington D.C. on Aug. 30, 1948, Black was raised in Silver Spring, Md. Colicky as a baby, he was destined to be angry and easily irritated. His mother, a teacher, and his father, a mechanical engineer, instilled the importance of education and the necessity to question authority—lessons that influenced Black throughout his life. He fell in love with the theatre at age 12, after seeing his first play, which led to pursuing a career in drama. Degrees followed from the University of North Carolina and Yale Drama School, with a stint in Colorado owning a theatre with a group of friends in the interim. During his tenure at UNC, Black ventured into stand-up, performing at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill. Stand-up was a steady presence as he pursued his career in theatre.

Black eventually settled in New York City and became the playwright-in-residence at the West Bank Café’s Downstairs Theatre Bar. He oversaw the development of more than 1,000 plays, including works by “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin, “American Beauty” writer Alan Ball, as well as his own original works. In addition to overseeing the works on stage, Black emceed every show. As the West Bank grew, so did Black’s stand-up skills. He left the West Bank in the late 1980s to pursue stand-up full time.

In 1996, his friend Lizz Winstead tapped him to create a weekly segment for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” The segment, a three-minute rant about whatever was bothering him at the moment, evolved into Back in Black, becoming one of the most popular and longest-running segments on the show for both the Jon Stewart era, and now The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.  Black has also taped four specials for the “Comedy Central Presents” series, co-created “Last Laugh with Lewis Black” and presided over “Lewis Black’s The Root of All Evil.” His popular appearances on Comedy Central helped to win him Best Male Stand-Up at the American Comedy Awards in 2001.

Increased exposure from “The Daily Show” generated a record deal with Stand Up! Records. His first CD, “The White Album,” was released in 2000 to critical acclaim. Black followed with eleven more—six under the Comedy Central Records label. He has received six Grammy® nominations and two wins for his work. The first nomination came in 2006 for “Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center Blues,” the second in 2009 for “Anticipation.” In 2007 he won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for “The Carnegie Hall Performance,” and again in 2011 for “Stark Raving Black.” His 2012 release, “In God We Rust” (Comedy Central Records) was also nominated for a Grammy.  This year he was again nominated for a Grammy, for his comedy album “Thanks for Risking Your Life”.

Black has filmed two specials for HBO, including “Black On Broadway” and “Red, White and Screwed.” The latter was nominated for an Emmy® in 2007. He had a regular feature for two seasons on “Inside the NFL” (for which he earned a Sports Emmy) and in 2006, he was asked to participate in “Comic Relief.”

In 2009 Lewis filmed his first feature length concert film, “Stark Raving Black,” at the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit. The film had a limited run in theaters across the U.S. and Canada in the summer of 2010. At the end of the theater run, premium movie channel EpixHD picked up the film for its channel, along with the accompanying documentary, “Basic Black.” Both are aired regularly and can be found in the EpixHD on-demand queue. In 2011, he produced his second full-length concert, “In God We Rust,” which also airs on EpixHD. In August 2013, Black recorded his ninth stand-up special “Old Yeller: Live At The Borgata.” His newest special Thanks for Risking Your Life (premiered October 6, 2020) was his last live performance before the Covid lockdown.

In 2015, Black joined the cast of Madoff (ABC mini series). Black portrays Ezra Merkin, who, after investing with Madoff and receiving great returns, brought many famous and well-to-do Jewish clients, including Elie Weisel and The Hadassah Organization, to Bernie’s fold.

Black has appeared on “Larry King Live,” “Piers Morgan Tonight,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’ Brian” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Black has also had numerous appearances on CNN and MSNBC and has occasionally done the weather with Al Roker.

In the midst of a rigorous touring schedule, regular TV appearances and movie roles, Black has written three best-selling books: “Nothing’s Sacred” (Simon and Schuster, 2005), “Me of Little Faith” (Riverhead Books, 2008) and “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas” (Riverhead Books, 2010). All garnered critical praise as well commercial success and spent numerous weeks on the New York Times best sellers list.

Black has penned more than 40 plays, many of which have been produced around the country. “The Deal,” a dark comedy about business, was made into a short film in 1998 and picked up by the Sundance Channel. In 2011, his play “One Slight Hitch” was produced at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and then again in 2012 at both the ACT Theatre in Seattle and The George Street Theatre in New Brunswick.

In 2006, Black had a break-out year as an actor, co-starring with Robin Williams in Barry Levinson’s “Man of the Year” (Universal Pictures). He also appeared as “the fake dean of a fake college” in Steve Pink’s “Accepted” (Universal Pictures) and as the harried airport manager in Paul Feig’s “Unaccompanied Minors” (Warner Bros.). He lent his voice to Jimmy in Bob Sagat’s parody “Farce of the Penguins” (Thinkfilm).

In 2015, Black notably voiced the character “Anger” in the Academy Award winning film from Pixar, “Inside Out.” The film is about an 11-year-old-girl, Riley, who is dealing with a move across the country, and wrestling with the emotions inside her head: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and, Lewis Black. Early film pitches actually named the comedian to illustrate how an iconic voice like Black’s could bring a character like Anger to life. Black, who’s a fan of all things Pixar, calls the opportunity a career-defining role. “I knew from the very beginning that this was going to be special,” he says. “I’ll be remembered as this little red guy who yells and his head goes on fire.”

As a long time mentor with the 52nd Street Project, Black was roasted in Charred Black 2007, which drew the largest fundraising numbers in the Project’s history. He’s a member of their advisory board, is co-chair of their capital campaign, and in 2000, the Ron Black Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memory of his late brother. Black is also committed to raising funds for the Rusty Magee Clinic for Families and Health. He’s a strong supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Luv u Project and a variety of charities for Autism including NEXT for AUTISM.  He was honored by both The Brady Center for his commitment to ending gun violence in 2012 and by the ACLU of Georgia with their National Civil Liberties Award. At the Williamstown Theatre Festival, he established the William Foeller Fellowship, having taught and performed at the festival for more than a decade. Black also supports our military personnel and has performed in three USO Holiday tours with Admiral Mullen, Robin Williams, Kid Rock, Kathleen Madigan and a host of others.

Black resides in both Manhattan and Chapel Hill, N.C. Still loyal to his alma mater, he’s worked with UNC students to create the Carolina Comedy Festival, a yearly festival on the UNC campus that highlights performances and provides workshops and lectures for budding comics, writers and performers. With his involvement at UNC, Black continues a life-long commitment to education and the arts. He continues to tour heavily, playing countless dates each year and providing a cathartic release of anger and disillusionment for his audience.

In his leisure time, Black likes to play golf, even though golf hates him.

Travel Information will be available to guests once they purchase a participant package.  The Luv u Project will take care of booking all travel arrangements for guests including booking airfare and hotel.

Event Airports – Tucson Airport or Phoenix Airport

Event Hotel – Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Arizona

Click Here to See the Beautiful Venue

Lewis Black Invitational Golf Participants will be treated to a short game golf clinic and exhibition on the arrival day by Peter Kostis.

Golf Participants will also enjoy two days of golf at Dove Mountain courses.

2026 Tournament Rules and Format 

Click Here to Learn More about the Golf Courses

Click Here for the 2026 Event Schedule

Lewis Black Invitational guests will enjoy a fun-filled comedy dinner on Tuesday, April 14th. It is sure to be a memorable night!

2026 Entertainers!

The Lewis Black Invitational benefiting The Luv u Project will hold a live auction during the dinner on Monday night, April 13th.

There will also be an opportunity for event guests to make a donation to The Luv u Project through Gifts of Luv.  Gifts of Luv donations are 100% tax deductible.

2026 Live Auction Items:

Return to Dove Mountain

Return to this beautiful venue for a vacation for two! Winner will enjoy a two-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain in Arizona, including breakfast for two each morning. Enjoy this five-star resort’s three pools, follow a morning hike with fresh juice made from oranges you picked along the way, or visit the resort spa to loosen up with a gemstone massage. Winner will also enjoy a round of golf for two at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, which offers players challenges amid Arizona’s distinct natural beauty. The club’s 27 holes of championship golf sprawl across three courses, each designed by Jack Nicklaus. Winner will receive a three-day Avis car rental to get around the beautiful Arizona desert.

Valid through April 30, 2027

Donated by: The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, and Michelle Ashton

Wine and Bourbon and Fun Oh My!

Wine and bourbon lovers get ready to enjoy this package!  Winner will receive special wine list to make six selections for their table for the Comedy Dinner tomorrow night.

Winner will also receive special bottle of bourbon from Rich Mattingly’s private bourbon collection.

The fun does not stop there!  Winner will also receive a case of Lewis Noir wine shipped to them post event.  This is Lewis’s own special blend of wine.

Donated by Rich Mattingly and Drew McCoy

Experience Hollywood Like an Insider

The winner of this once in a lifetime package will experience Hollywood behind the scenes!  Luv u Project Board Member, Drew McCoy, and his wife, actress Amy Aquino, will personally give you a customized tour of Hollywood, including tickets to see a sitcom taping or a TV drama filming.  Every effort will be made to see the show of the winner’s choice, based on the availability of shows in production at the time. Also included, is the Warner Brothers VIP Studio Tour with lunch at the studio commissary, dinner at Musso & Frank Grill (the oldest restaurant in Hollywood), a two-night hotel stay at a Hilton or Marriott property (based on availability) and a three-day Avis car rental!

Hollywood visit valid to 5/1/2027.

Donated by Drew McCoy, Amy Aquino and Michelle Ashton

The Ultimate Buffalo Trace Collection

Calling all bourbon aficionados! This is a rare opportunity to secure four of the most sought-after and rarely allocated expressions from the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery. Whether you’re looking to anchor your home bar or find the crown jewel for your collection, this “Buffalo Trace Quad” offers an unparalleled tasting journey through the finest wheated and high-rye recipes in the world.

The Collection Highlights:

W.L. Weller 12 Year Old: The “Original Wheated Bourbon.” Aged far longer than most wheated bourbons, this 12-year expression is famed for its deep, bronze color and a complex, silky finish. Note: This bottle is present tonight and will go home with the winner!

Stagg (Jr.) Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Uncut and unfiltered. This powerhouse is known for its bold, intense flavors of chocolate, brown sugar, and a spicy rye kick that lingers beautifully.

W.L. Weller Full Proof: Distilled at 114 proof, this expression skips the chill filtration to preserve the robust natural oils and flavors of the grain. It is powerful, balanced, and incredibly flavorful.

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel: A tribute to the founding father of the modern bourbon industry. Each bottle is hand-picked from a single oak barrel, offering a unique profile of toasted oak, dried fruit, and butterscotch

The Weller 12 Year is available for immediate pickup tonight. The other bottles will be shipped directly to the winner’s preferred address following the event.

Donated by The Bae Family

PGA Championship Experience

Experience championship-level excitement!  Winner will enjoy 4 general admission tickets for both Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, 2026, at the 2026 PGA Championship at the historic Aronimink Golf Club, giving you unbeatable access to golfs biggest moments as they unfold. Your getaway includes a 2-night stay at the Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia in a King room, placing you steps from the city’s vibrant dining, culture, and nightlife. With 200,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles and a 3-day Avis car rental, your trip is seamless from takeoff to tee time-making this the ultimate experience for any golf fan ready to witness history in the making.

Parking not included.  Hotel must be used the weekend of the tournament.

Donated by Lesa Hopkins

Wine Tasting in Napa Valley

Step into a world where curiosity meets curation—where Napa’s celebrated legacy of wine, culture, and connection unfolds under open skies and among winding palms. Winner will receive a $1500 CitiCard for a 3-night stay in a suite at Casa Mani Resort in Napa Valley.  There will be money leftover on the CitiCard for the winner to enjoy dining or wine!

While in Napa, enjoy the Napa Valley Wine Train Legacy Tour for two.  This six-hour journey includes: three-hour rail tour of Napa Valley, welcome taste of sparkling wine, a four-course wine country inspired meal, one hour vineyard tasting & photo opportunity at the Napa Valley Sign, and a one hour tasting at Charles Krug & V. Sattuai.

Winner will also receive The Black Card Experience at the famed French Laundry Restaurant, world-famous for its consistent three Michelin stars.  The experience begins with champagne, followed by an eighteen-course tasting menu and an extraordinary wine accompaniment personalized by French Laundry Sommeliers. Also includes BMW car service to and from your hotel and a gift from Chef Keller upon departure.

This auction package includes an Avis Car Rental to get you around town and enjoy the many wineries and sites in Napa Valley.  Winner will also receive a case of Lewis Black’s very own wine blend, Lewis Noir.

Donated by Helen Johnson, Michelle Ashton and Drew McCoy

Golf at Congressional

Get ready for a once in a lifetime experience – golf on Congressional Country Club’s Blue Course. This private golf club has a rich history in the Washington DC area and has been open since the 1920’s. Congressional has been home to many PGA Tour events over the years. In addition to representing America for the 2036 Ryder Cup, Congressional will host five Major Championships and two National Championships over the next two decades.

The winner of this package will receive the opportunity to bring one guest along to play on Congressional Country Club’s Blue Course. The winner’s twosome will play with a member. This is a golfer’s dream! Winner will also receive a two-night hotel stay and 3-day Avis car rental.

Dates subject to availability of the member host.

Donated by Mark Hansan and Michelle Ashton