Tallahassee Tennis Blog: Another ‘Perfect Match’ for 5th Annual Charity Tournament

The 5th Annual “Perfect Match” Tournament, using a doubles-only format, was held at Tom Brown Park on May 16, 2015. The proceeds from the tournament went to One Church One Child (OCOC) of Florida, Inc., a nonprofit organization with a primary mission to find families and permanent homes for children waiting in the foster care system.

OCOC is funded in part through support from the Florida Department of Children and Families, private donations, grants, and fundraisers. Although Reverend Al Williams, Deputy Director of OCOC, is pleased that the tournament was able to generate more revenue this year, the primary intent of the tournament is “to raise community awareness and involvement in addressing the needs of children who wait for adoptive and foster parents, and permanent families and homes to call their own.”

Tournament Director Lenin Moncherie was very pleased with the increased participation in the tournament over last year, as well as the increased number of volunteers wanting to help.

As part of the tournament, more than 30 youth representing local area schools were treated to a tennis clinic followed by a Sports Challenge. Pineview Elementary won the Sports Challenge with the highest number of students participating. All tournament participants as well as the youth who participated in the clinic or challenge were treated to lunch.

Support for the tournament came from many community volunteers representing: Florida Blue, Bond Community Health Center, Florida A&M University, Florida Department of Children and Families, Guardian ad Litem, Venon Foundation, and Boys Town. Ms. Donna Harper and 10 members from AmeriCorps Tallahassee also served throughout the tournament. Present also were Department of Children and Families Representative, Kurt Brown; Guardian ad Litem CEO, Alan Abramowitz; and Leon County School Board Member, Mrs. Maggie Lewis Butler.

Special thanks to Mr. Leon Kicks and Mike Tuten for supporting One Church One Child of Florida and its mission for children in care.

The results of the tournament are as follows:
Mixed Doubles — Renee Howard and Greg Hicks defeated Alan Abramowitz and Nancy Daniels 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 in a third set tie breaker
Women’s Doubles — Renee Howard and Jazmine Adams defeated Christina and Shannon Williams 6-4, 6-4
Men’s Doubles — Jerry Wood and Jack Chipman defeated Kory Howard and Nate Tanner 6-3, 6-4
Men’s Singles — Greg Hicks defeated Andy Pitts 6-2, 6-3.

An Up/Down exhibition match was played by Sunil Patel and Marlon Toombs against Al Williams and Cory Howard. It was the first time for many to witness up/down tennis which allows players in wheelchairs to compete against able-bodied players. Patel is a nationally-ranked wheelchair player.

For more information on One Church One Child, please visit www.ococfl.org or email OCOC at info@ococfl.org.