Author: nyjtl

On December 29^th and 30^th, 2014 NYJTL hosted its annual Christmas/Holiday Tournament at Roosevelt Island Racket Club. The turnout was fantastic, with more than 75 kids participating, representing all eight Winter Community Tennis Sites. All participants received a t-shirt and hat, and medals were awarded for first, second and third places in the Girls 12s, 14s and 18s divisions, and the Boys 12s, 14s and 18s divisions.  A fun and festive time was had by all!

NYJTL raised a total of $1,880,000 in combined Leadership Luncheon and Cary Leeds Center contributions making October 29, 2014 the single biggest fundraising day in the organization’s more than 40-year history.

The room erupted in applause and gave a standing ovation at the 29^th annual NYJTL Leadership Awards Luncheon when Larry and Dalia Leeds texted a pledge for $1 million to the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning capital campaign, bringing the family’s total contribution to $3 million of the total $26.5 million needed to complete the project.

“Larry and Dalia told us they wanted to make the first pledge at our fundraising luncheon,” said NYJTL President & CEO Dr. Deborah Antoine. “What followed was truly an amazing outpouring of generosity from so many of our supporters in the room, raising an additional $330,000 towards our goal, which we will reach by year end.”

The 2014 Leadership Luncheon featured a Text-to-Pledge® fundraising appeal by 2013 Luncheon honoree and Tennis Channel Chairman & CEO Ken Solomon, who flew in from Los Angeles to lead the effort. “The goal of the fundraising appeal was to achieve a high rate of participation by the attendees, who, by their presence, we knew to be NYJTL supporters,” explained Solomon. “We were blown away by both the number of gifts scrolling across the screen and the level of giving.”

Among the nearly 80 pledges received, which started at $25, were an anonymous $1,000 donation from one of Cary Leeds’s former tennis coaches, $15,000 from Women’s Sports Foundation CEO and NYJTL Board Member Deborah Larkin, and two $100,000 commitments made by Eric Hadar, a former Luncheon honoree, and John Arnhold, whose gift was made in honor of NYJTL Founder & Chair Emeritus Skip Hartman. Long-time NYJTL employee Steve Schott pledged $20,000.

NYJTL Board Member Bruce Manson made a $10,000 pledge, joined by $5,000 pledges from fellow Board Members Polly Scott and Fay Ann Lee, whose pledge was made in honor of the former Mayor of New York City David Dinkins. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer also made a $5,000 pledge.

“We are so deeply grateful for the incremental support of our Board Members, each of whom have made prior gifts to the Cary Leeds campaign,” said Antoine.

When it came time for the honorees Todd Martin, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, and Doug Conant, Chairman of Avon Products, to speak, the ballroom at the Grand Hyatt was buzzing with excitement as introductions were made by Maurice DuBois and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, respectively.

Martin and Conant both recognized the accomplishments of NYJTL participants Alyssa Gordon, who received the NYJTL Achievement Award, and Lonnie McKinstry, who was given the Irwin Askenase Sportsmanship Award.

Both Martin, who was ranked as high as No. 4 in the world, and Conant, who did not make his high school tennis team as a freshman but went on to play four years at Northwestern University, credited tennis as teaching them valuable life lessons. Conant told the story of not making his tennis team as an opportunity for him, as well as a useful lesson.

Board Chair Martin Goldberg closed the program by thanking NYJTL staff and supporters for their longstanding commitment.

Attendees were given the gift of membership to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, signed copies of Mr. Conant’s New York Times Bestseller TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments, and a DVD produced by Tennis Channel on the life of Arthur Ashe.

The event would not have been such a success were it not for the dedication of the event Co-Chairs, Lawrence B. Benenson, Peter L. Malkin and Polly Scott, and Honorary Co-Chairs Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Mayor David Dinkins, USTA President David Haggerty, and Ken Solomon.

Since its inception, the NYJTL Luncheon has been underwritten by the Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation. Thus, all proceeds go directly to fund NYJTL operating expenses.

“My parents instilled in me a love of tennis and philanthropy,” said Lawrence Benenson. “Our family is pleased to be able to continue this tradition for NYJTL.”

More than 200 building and construction industry leaders from the Bronx and New York City, as well as dignitaries from around the world, including former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins and NYJTL founder, Skip Hartman, attended the inaugural Bronx Chamber of Commerce Building Awards dinner. The event was held at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx on October 29.

Many friends of NYJTL were also on hand to salute the construction and development of the new Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in Crotona Park in the South Bronx. The award was presented jointly to NYJTL and Gluck+, the architects and builders of the $26.5 million project.

During the awards ceremony, the Bronx Chamber also recognized seven other Bronx building and construction projects. They were: Banknote Building, Taconic Investment Partners; Boricua College Village, Atlantic Development Group; Heritage Fields, NYC Dept. Parks & Recreation, Turner Construction; The Mall at Bay Plaza, Prestige Properties & Development Company; Montefiore Hutchinson Campus Ambulatory Care Center, Simone Development Group; South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures & the Arts, Signature Construction Group and Via Vence, Phipps Houses & Jonathan Rose Companies.

The Building Awards are a part of the Centennial celebration of the Bronx.

The crowd heard from Ambassador Ido Aharoni, the Consul General of Israel in New York, Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Congressman Charles Rangel, and Congressman Eliot Engel, as well as Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., the night’s keynote speaker. Mr. Diaz expressed his enthusiasm for the Cary Leeds Center and the impact it will have. “The Center will make a sport that was not readily available an option for Bronx students. It will offer tennis and education for our children. It is more than jobs, more than cement and bricks and mortar.”

The winningest doubles team in the history of Open tennis entertained a group of approximately 400 cheering fans in the American Business Bryan Brothers Shootout, a pre-US Open warm up at Manursing Island Club benefiting NYJTL and the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning.

Fifteen-time Grand Slam champions Bob and Mike Bryan squared off against another world-class doubles team, Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, in a match that may take place in the next two weeks at Flushing Meadows.

Between sets of the exhibition, NYJTL Board Member and ATP World Tour alumnus Bruce Manson, representing ATP, presented the ‘ACES for Charity’ grant of $15,000 to fellow Board Member Polly Scott, whose late husband Gene Scott was a founding member of both NJTL (National Junior Tennis & Learning) and the ATP. The grant will help fund the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning.

“NYJTL has a long history of connections with past and present ATP World Tour players,” said Manson. “I am happy to be part of that tradition with the ‘ACES for Charity’ grant to support the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning.”

Preceding the exhibition match, 12 amateurs had the experience of playing with and against the four world-class doubles players. “The members at Manursing were excited to be able to benefit NYJTL by staging this extraordinary Pro-Am and exhibition for the local community”, said NYJTL Board member Polly Scott.

Through their participation in the American Business Shootout, the Bryans continued their support of the Cary Leeds Center, which began last summer when they kicked off the Cary Leeds 1,000 Friends Campaign with a $5,000 donation. Following the exhibition, the Bryans brought NYJTL participants on court and volleyed with some of the children, while the other children joined hands between the brothers to form a snake. Just before the final point was to be played, the Bryans issued a challenge — announcing that NYJTL would receive $1,000 from the Bryan Bros. Foundation if the children won the point — of course, the children won the point.

In addition to the four ATP players, participants in the Pro Am included top area teaching professionals Todd Paul and DJ Gaetz of Manursing Island Club, Juan Arraya and Marcel Lima of Westchester Country Club, Anton Mavrin from Wee Burn Country Club and Harry Walsh of Larchmont Shore Club. Enthusiastic amateurs included Chuck Caulkins, Zander Comfort, Alain Decoster, Paul Evanson, Howard Helene, Gary Killian, Brian O’Connor, Joe Seibecker, Gary and Jeff Tolman and juniors Henry Decoster, who plays for Greenwich High, and Teddy Van Eck and Shane Killian, who are both heading to IMG Academy to work with world-famous coach Nick Bollettieri. Following the tennis, guests had the opportunity to meet and mingle with the four players over hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

The Bryan twins have won multiple Olympic medals, including the gold in 2012 in London. They have achieved a career Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slam doubles at least once in addition to the Olympic Gold, and they hold the record for longest stretch as the World No. 1 doubles team at 47 weeks. Bob and Mike also won the 2007 Davis Cup along with Andy Roddick and James Blake. The Bryans were named ATP Team of the Decade for 2000–2009.

Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, ranked 21 and 30 in the world respectively, won their first ATP World Tour title (Zagreb) in their fourth tournament as a team. Since then the pair has appeared in the finals of four ATP World Tour Titles, winning 3 of them (Casablanca, Bucharest and Hertogenbosch). Roger has 13 career doubles titles and Tecau has 20.