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,” said Assini. “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:
Craig Bell, Bent Tree Club Tennis (Dallas, TX)
Jamie Peterson, Chartwell Golf & Country Club (Severna, MD)
David Neuhart, Reynolds Plantation-Lake Club Tennis Center (Greensboro, GA)
Scott Baxter, Play Your Court (Virginia Beach, VA)
Todd Assini, Berkeley Hills Country Club (Duluth, GA)
Tom Gibson, Maharaj Tennis (Fernadina Beach, FL)
Steve Kappes, San Diego Tennis Association (San Diego, CA)
Geoff Griffin, Balboa Tennis Club (San Diego, CA)
Joni Hannah, Westwood Country Club (Vienna, VA)
Marco Impeduglia, Junior Tennis Champions Center (College Park, MD)
Craig Turner, Cantey Tennis Enterprise (Naples, FL)
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
