Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic – 21 to 23 November in Boca Raton and Delray Beach
The 2014 Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic runs this weekend in Boca Raton and Delray Beach and the charity hopes to build on its base to bring more funds in to help campaigns against drug abuse and child neglect in Florida.
The event began today at Boca Raton Resort and Club and tomorrow it moves to Delray Beach Tennis Center where it will conclude on Sunday.
The event is sponsored by Raymond James, the Florida based financial services holding company, who were formed in 1962.
In 2013 the Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic raised an amazing $600,000 dollars and since 1989, Chris Evert’s efforts have contributed over $21.2 million in an ongoing campaign against drug abuse and child neglect in Florida. Much of the money has been raised with the help of loyal and generous sponsors, participating celebrities, legions of volunteers and a really dedicated staff.
The event is a multi day format comprising of two days of Pro-Celebrity tennis, a classic cocktail party and a Pro-Celebrity Gala, an elegant, first-class evening of entertainment, dining and dancing. There is also a live auction at the Gala with some one of a kind items that have to be seen to be believed.
Chris retired from professional tennis in 1989 after an illustrious career that saw her win 1,309 matches, 157 singles titles and 18 Grand Slam titles, the third best in tennis history (three Wimbledon, seven French Opens, two Australian Opens and six U.S. Opens.)
Chris spoke to us and said : ““I always wanted to have my own charity program, but there just wasn’t time when I was playing. I did not want to do it in name only— where I wouldn’t be active in organizing and overseeing it. So we’re now into our 25th year, our silver anniversary and in the previous twenty four years we’ve raised $24.5 million for the prevention of drug abuse.”
“We finance a lot of the programs down here in South Florida that focus more on Moms and their children, and we try to provide education, job training and therapy so they can get their lives back and get into the mainstream of living and still be with their children.”
She continued: “Drug abuse is a big issue down here and I’m happy I can help with the issue.”
The Pro-Celebrity tennis action begins at 11.00am tomorrow at Delray Beach Tennis facility and will run until 3pm. The 25th Annual Pro-Celebrity Gala then starts at 6pm with a conclusion at 11pm before the players enjoy some more tennis from 11am to 3pm on Sunday.
Other celebrities participating in the event are Martina Navratilova, David Cook )pictured above right), Hoda Kotb, Gavin Rossdale, Jon Lovitz (pictured above left), Maeve Quinlan, Sebastien Grosjean, Jesse Levine, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, Vince Spadea, Patrick McEnroe, Timothy Olyphant, Darren Cahill, Rennae Stubbs, Cliff Drysdale, Rob Marciano and Donna Vekic.
Tickets for the event are available at http://www.chrisevert.org/tickets/
More photographs at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
