PICTURED: Tayo Bailey, Butler University Women’s Tennis Program Head Coach; Violet Clark, USTA/MTEF President; Todd Martin, International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO, Jim and Bobbie Farley, Honorary Chairs; Katrina Adams, USTA Chair, President and CEO.
On Friday, August 18 the USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation celebrated its 25th Anniversary during a special Generations of Greatness event. Long-time foundation supporters, Bobbie and Jim Farley of Cincinnati, were the honorary chairs for the event, which was held in conjunction with the Western and Southern Open in Mason, Ohio.
The evening began by recognizing the Charter Champions, the Foundation’s founding members that were in attendance that evening. The program continued with the unveiling of a new video about the Foundation, explaining how the Foundation is transforming lives with tennis and how it will continue to impact future generations to come.
Special guest speakers for the event included USTA Chairman, President and CEO, Katrina Adams and CEO of the International Hall of Fame, Todd Martin. Both Adams and Martin grew up playing tennis in the USTA/Midwest Section.
Foundation President Violet Clark presented two longtime volunteers of the Foundation, Jay Hacker and Laurie Covert, with the Foundation’s inaugural Charter Champions Impact Award. Jenny Casey, Laurie Covert’s daughter, accepted the award on her behalf. Named in honor of the Charter Champions, this award was created to capture the spirit and lasting legacy of the 35 founding members and to honor an individual or group of individuals who have made significant, long term contributions to the Foundation.
The presentation portion of the evening concluded with a testimonial by Tayo Bailey, Head Coach of the Butler University Women’s Tennis Team. Bailey grew up in Chicago and was a participant of Love to Serve, one of many programs supported by the Foundation.
Following Bailey’s presentation, attendees were given the opportunity to donate to the Foundation’s $25 for 25 campaign. Launched in honor of the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, the $25 for 25 campaign (donate $25 or more) was created to fund one of the Foundation’s new grants which will benefit specific adult populations: disabled veterans and adult athletes participating in wheelchair and adaptive tennis. To donate to the campaign, Click Here.
A silent auction was held during the event. All proceeds from the evening benefitted the Foundation’s efforts to develop the life skills of youth through tennis and education, and support its expanded mission to serve disabled veterans and adult athletes participating in adaptive and wheelchair tennis.
