ATP Honors Tournaments That Serve Their Community

Written by: Resendiz on 24th December 2012

ATP Honors Tournaments That Serve Their Community

epa03060141 Shadow of Andy Murray of Great Britain in action during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 15 January 2012. The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, will begin on 16 January. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

The Washington Tennis & Education Fund has been selected among 14 recipients in the ATP ACES For Charity grant program for 2013. Grants of $10,000 each are awarded by the ATP on an annual basis to charitable causes nominated by ATP World Tour players and tournaments.

Entering its third year in 2013, the ATP ACES For Charity program is a global initiative aimed at giving back to communities where ATP World Tour events are played, as well as recognizing and supporting tournament and player charitable initiatives.

Tournaments honored included were; BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy (Bucharest): The Dumbrava Minunată Foundation, supported by the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy tournament, is dedicated to the well-being of vulnerable social groups, including impoverished elderly people in Romania. Established by Ion Tiriac and a team of trained caregivers, it created The Poiana Soarelui Bakery – which now has a network of shops – with the purpose of providing financial revenues to support their social work. The Foundation is currently focused on the project, “Let’s live with dignity; old age is not a burden”. The program aims to improve the situation of marginalised seniors in Brasov by designing and promoting integrated social services.

Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati): The Dragonfly Foundation, which works exclusively with children at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, provides comfort and joy to kids and young adults with cancer and blood diseases. Its services fall into three categories: gifting programs for patients, families and hospitals; caring and support programs; and social events and entertainment. The Western & Southern Open has been played for the benefit of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center since 1974.

Aegon International (Eastbourne): St Wilfrid’s Hospice, a charity partner of the Aegon International, provides care for adults with a life-threatening illness. It offers a Hospice at Home service, through which qualified nurses and support workers care for patients in their homes. St Wilfrid’s is also currently developing a new hospice building – a modern, purpose-built facility in Eastbourne – which will double its current inpatient capacity and improve the patient care provided.

Estoril Open: The Academia dos Champs (ADC), supported by the Estoril Open since its launch in 2009, aims to enable as many children as possible to take control of their future and to actively shape it through tennis. It identifies locations where a need is spotted and establishes ADC Tennis Centres, offering tennis lessons and tournaments through which children develop social and personal skills that will provide them with a sense of direction. The ATP ACES for Charity grant will support the cost of a new centre in the Cascais Municipality for a year.

Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur: The Dignity for Children Foundation, nominated by the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, operates one of the largest one-stop learning centres for urban poor children in Malaysia and currently serves 700 children between the ages of two and 20. It has eight education programs – ranging from early childhood education and vocational training to sports development and teacher training – tailored to meet the needs of the children to ensure they acquire the academic and social personal skills crucial to their success in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Citi Open (Washington, DC): The Washington Tennis & Education Fund (WTEF), a beneficiary of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, combines tennis and education in two main programs that serve 1,000 children annually. It seeks to improve the life prospects of DC youth, particularly those from lower income communities, through academic, athletic and community-building activities that teach discipline, build confidence and improve academic performance. The grant will support its flagship Arthur Ashe Children’s Program, specifically funding the round-robin ‘tennis meet’ competitions between 24 schools.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: ATP ACES For Charity grant, St Wilfrid’s Hospice, tennis charity, Tennis News, The Academia dos Champs, The Dignity for Children Foundation, The Dragonfly Foundation, The Dumbrava Minunată Foundation, The Washington Tennis & Education Fund, Washington Tennis & Education Fund