USPTA pros help raise $22K for military families
September 20, 2014
HOUSTON — Since May, members of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) have donated $22,086.25 to ThanksUSA as part of the Tennis Thanks The Troops campaign, which included a $1,000 donation from the USPTA Foundation.
Through Tennis Thanks the Troops, USPTA and ThanksUSA have teamed up to encourage USPTA Professionals to raise money for scholarships given to the families of military men and women. USPTA Professionals held tournaments, festivals, auctions and lessons to help raise funds, and the pro who raised the most won a trip to the 2014 US Open.
This year’s winner, USPTA Elite Professional Todd Assini of the Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, Georgia, traveled to the US Open, courtesy of ThanksUSA. The tennis director hosted a Memorial Day Tennis Mixer fundraiser, a Silent Auction fundraiser, a Wimbledon viewing party, and a happy hour on June 28, raising $6,335.25 for the charity.
“I feel happy that Berkeley Hills Country Club was involved in raising money for this great organization that supports education for the military and their families,” Assini said. “We were excited to do our part in the fundraising efforts and even more elated that we were able to be the ‘top fundraiser’ for Tennis Thanks the Troops. It is the least we can do for all those who sacrifice their lives every day for our freedom. Freedom isn’t free!”
Tennis Thanks the Troops encourages tennis professionals and enthusiasts nationwide to host fundraising events or donate to the ThanksUSA organization, which provides need-based post-secondary scholarships for college, technical and vocational schools, to the children and spouses of active-duty military men and women.
Since its inception in 2006, ThanksUSA has awarded nearly 3,400 scholarships totaling more than $10 million.
Below is a list of USPTA Professionals and participating clubs who made donations: