Chris Evert Raises $700,000 for the Children of South Florida

Written by: Staff on 7th November 2010

Actor Jon Lovitz was a participate on the court and in the umpire's chair.

Chris Evert Raises $700,000 for the Children of South Florida |

Chris Evert’s 21^st annual Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic raised more than $700,000 to benefit neglected and abused children in South Florida during two days of tennis at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.

Now in its 21^st year, the annual event has raised more than $19 million since the first event in 1989. Each year Chris Evert Charities partners with the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, a public-private partnership in conjunction with the state of Florida, to raise money supporting programs for at-risk children.

On the court, Evert and actor Scott Foley, who has just been added to the cast of the popular television show Grey’s Anatomy, put up a strong fight, but lost a close 6-4 set to musician Gavin Rossdale and tennis great Anna Kournikova, in one of the best matches in the event’s history.

Evert then returned with Jeffrey Donovan, star of the popular television drama Burn Notice, to face her longtime friend and tennis rival, Martina Navratilova and American Idol winner David Cook, and picked up her first win of the weekend, with a 6-4 victory.

In other matches Sunday, television star Alan Thicke paired with tennis Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez to defeat Fox and Friends’ Steve Doocy and French Davis Cup player Sebastien Grosjean, 6-5. Former French Open doubles winner Murphy Jensen and news man Stone Phillips teamed up to defeat South Florida’s Vince Spadea and Olympic Gold Medalist Dan Jansen, 6-5. In the last match of the day, Navratilova returned with actress Elisabeth Shue and picked up a 6-4 win over Jensen and comedian Jon Lovitz.

Saturday Gala Raises $180,000

The event’s annual Gala, held Saturday evening at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, raised $180,000. Among the larger contributions in the evening’s live auction were a US Open ticket package with seats in the USTA President’s Box ($19,000), two roundtrip tickets to fly anywhere in the world on Swiss International Air Lines ($13,000) and a Wimbledon ticket package that raised $7,500. Tickets and VIP tours at television shows also were popular, with a visit to the set of the hit show Burn Notice with the show’s star Jeffrey Donovan bringing $11,000, an American Idol Finale package raising $6,000, and two Fox & Friends backstage visits netting a combined $9,000.

Vitas Gerulaitis Scholarship Winners Announced

On Saturday Chris Evert presented two local women with Vitas Gerulaitis Memorial Scholarships. The scholarships are presented each year honoring Evert’s longtime friend and fellow tennis professional, Vitas Gerulaitis. Michelle DuPont, 22, from Miramar, Fla. and Jeanne Emiddio, 46, of Palm City, Fla., will use the scholarships to help them further their education. DuPont, is attending Sheridan Technical Center, where she is pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts. Emiddio is completing a degree in Sonography at Indian River State College and hopes to become an Ultrasound technician. Both women participate in Healthy Families Florida, which helps parents build on existing strengths and equips them to provide the safe, stable, stimulating and nurturing experiences children need for healthy development.

Results from Matches, Sunday, Nov. 7

Gigi Fernandez and Alan Thicke def. Steve Doocy and Sebastien Grosjean 6-5

Murphy Jensen and Stone Phillips def. Vince Spadea and Dan Jansen 6-5

Anna Kournikova and Gavin Rossdale def. Chris Evert and Scott Foley 6-4

Chris Evert and Jeffrey Donovan def. Martina Navratilova and David Cook 6-4

Martina Navratilova and Elisabeth Shue def. Murphy Jensen and Jon Lovitz 6-4

Topics: American Idol Winner, Boca Raton Resort, Boca Raton Resort And Club, Chris Evert, Delray Beach Tennis, Delray Beach Tennis Center, Elisabeth Shue, French Open Doubles, Gigi Fernandez, Jeffrey Donovan, Jon Lovitz, Martina Navratilova, Murphy Jensen, Olympic Gold Medalist, Ounce Of Prevention Fund, Public Private Partnership, Scott Foley, Sebastien Grosjean, Tennis Hall Of Famer, Vince Spadea