FLUSHING, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2024 (USTA Press Release)
The USTA Foundation, the national charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), celebrated 30 years of serving up dreams during its Opening Night Gala at the 2024 US Open. The annual event raised over $2.2 million to help support the more than 250 community organizations that are part of the USTA Foundation’s flagship National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network.
This network, created in 1969 by pioneering tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe, for whom Arthur Ashe Stadium was named 27 years ago, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, provides more than 150,000 youth from under-resourced communities nationwide with more equitable access to tennis, education, and life skills development to help prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of life. Pasarell and Ashe’s wife, Jeanne Ashe, were gala special guests, along with USTA Foundation founder Judy Levering and tennis legend, sneaker icon and humanitarian Stan Smith.
Scott Wapner, host of CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report” and “Closing Bell,” served as gala emcee, while composer, lyricist, and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda served as Honorary Co-Host. Mariska Hargitay and Tommy Haas served as Honorary Co-Chairs for the event. Actor Alec Baldwin led a live auction where supporters bid on unique experiences and items. Also during the event, 18-time major singles champion and USTA Foundation Chairperson Chris Evert honored former US Open champion Andy Roddick with the “Serving Up Dreams” award for his efforts to give back to youth from under-resourced communities through the Andy Roddick Foundation. ESPN served as Presenting Sponsor, and Moet also sponsored the event.
“This gala is about so much more than raising funds – it’s about opening the door of opportunity to hundreds of thousands of young people across the country,” said USTA Foundation CEO Ginny Ehrlich. “For 30 years, we have carried on the mission of combining tennis and education to transform the lives of young people – especially those most in need. Thanks to the generosity of our individual and corporate donors, we will continue to use the power of tennis to help prepare more youth for whatever life serves them and give them access to the possible.”
Other supporters in attendance included fashion icons Anna Wintour and Vera Wang, businessman and “Shark Tank” investor Daymond John, journalist Katie Couric, TODAY Show on-air contributor and fitness instructor Ally Love, professional ballerina Misty Copeland, former tennis star Monica Seles, and many more.
