ITHF and First Serve to honor Buchholz
February 26, 2009
NEWPORT, RI — The International Tennis Hall of Fame and First Serve will host a special evening honoring 2005 Hall of Famer Butch Buchholz while also celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Sony Ericsson Open. The event will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami, Florida.
A cocktail reception and silent auction will take place 7:00pm to 8:00pm, with dinner and event program starting at 8:00pm. Honorary Chairs for the event are Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, The Honorable Jeb Bush and Hall of Fame President Tony Trabert. Tennis analyst and commentator Cliff Drysdale will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. In addition, Hall of Famers Gabriela Sabatini, Bud Collins and Fred Stolle will be in attendance.
Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005 as a Contributor to the sport, Buchholz has played key roles in the evolution of both professional and amateur tennis. He has been a pioneer in developing both men’s and women’s tennis, using his expertise in fundraising, sponsorship and marketing to help create a wider audience for numerous events throughout the world. He has served tennis in many professional and administrative capacities, including Commissioner of World Team Tennis (1977-78), ATP Executive Director (1981-82) and member of the men’s pro council (1981-83). He has also worked as Tournament Director for numerous events, including the prestigious Sony Ericsson Open in Miami (he is currently Chairman and Co-Founder), which got its start in 1985. He was also instrumental in setting up an ATP World Tour event played in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In addition, Buchholz teamed with tennis legend Arthur Ashe in 1992 to form the “Good Life Mentoring Program” benefiting hundreds of elementary and middle school children in the greater Miami area. As a player, Buchholz was ranked No. 5 in the world in 1960, and was ranked four times in the U.S. Top 10. He played as a touring pro 1961-67 (U.S. Pro Champ in 1962) and was a member of the United States Davis Cup team 1959-60.
For more information, or to purchase tickets ($500 per/person) please contact Mickey Riendeau, International Tennis Hall of Fame, at 401-849-3990 / [email protected] or Erika Buchholz, First Serve, at 954 568-4661ext. 1 / [email protected]. Proceeds from the event will benefit both First Serve and the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.
About First Serve:
First Serve, a national 501c3 nonprofit organization, provides academic, life skills and tennis programming that challenges and inspires underserved young people who are dedicated to succeed in life. First Serve programming runs year-round in 16 cities across America, with Affiliate Chapters in South Africa and Jamaica. For more information, visit firstserve.org.
About the International Tennis Hall of Fame:
Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, enshrining tennis heroes and heroines, and providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. The International Tennis Hall of Fame was recognized as the sport’s official Hall of Fame in 1986 by the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis. For additional information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, it’s honored Hall of Famers, exhibits, events and programs, please call 401-849-3990, or visit the Hall of Fame’s official website, tennisfame.com