Winning wasn’t the only thought on players’ minds when they hit the court this weekend to take part in the Serving Sarasota Charity Tennis Tournament, they were also thinking about raising money for Florida grassroots tennis.
The event on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at the Laurel Oak Country Club in Sarasota benefitted the USTA Florida Section Foundation, the giving arm of USTA Florida.
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In total, $4,360 was raised to assist the foundation in its mission to change lives through tennis by providing equipment and other assistance to local communities.
“It excites me to see a community rally together to create life-changing opportunities for others,” said foundation executive director Alexis Johnson. “The foundation is extremely thankful that so many people came out to help make a difference.”
The one-day charity team tournament featured doubles play in the 6.5/7.5/8.5 level divisions.
Women’s 6.5 Division
Winning team: Jacaranda West
Members: Gwen Vison, Karen Kennedy, Pam Aber, Susan Orr
Women’s 7.5 Division
Winning team: Combo Killers
Members: Cindy Rosenberg, Courtney Rosenthal, Jan Sutter, Lori Lockhart, Rebecca Meyer
Women’s 8.5 Division
Winning team: Green Berets
Members: Christine Adelman, Christine Vecchione, Elizabeth Green, Karen Nicholson, Lori Faunce
Men’s 8.5 Division
Winning team: Hardy’s Heroes
Members: Calvin Hac, Jeffrey Stern, Nick Hardy, Scott Schuhriemen
Funds raised from prize raffles, as well as part of the $50 tournament registration fee, went to the foundation, which will benefit community tennis in Florida through grant opportunities offered by the foundation. The USTA Florida Section Foundation has distributed nearly $1,300,000 in equipment and financial support since 2010 to support local schools, public parks, adaptive programs connected to organizations such as Special Olympics Florida, ACEing Autism and Love Serving Autism, and many more.
“It is my sincere hope that we’ll see more tournaments in the future benefitting the USTA Florida Foundation’s mission of ‘changing lives through tennis’,” said Johnson. “The impact investors of Serving Sarasota shared the love by doing what they love, and we look forward to other communities doing the same.”
If you weren’t able to participate in the Serving Sarasota Charity Tennis Tournament but still want to contribute and help grow tennis in Florida communities, click the donate button below.
ABOUT THE USTA FLORIDA SECTION FOUNDATION
With a mission of “Changing Lives through Tennis,” the USTA Florida Section Foundation provides financial support to organizations that help people of all ages and abilities improve their health and quality of life through the great game of tennis.
