Long Island Tennis Magazine’s Charitable Initiatives
Lawrence Yacht and Country Club Tennis Event Raises $30,000-Plus for Wounded Warriors Project
The Lawrence Yacht and Country Club recently hosted a charity event at its club benefiting the Wounded Warriors Project. The inaugural event was a day filled with activities, such as tennis tournaments, a golf outing and an afternoon of fishing.
The tennis tournament consisted of 40 people playing mixed-doubles, along with more than 120 golfers, as many others were out on the water enjoying a day of fishing.
Mark Harrison, Lawrence CC’s head tennis professional, gave free lessons prior to the mixed-doubles tournament to all members of the Wounded Warriors who were interested in participating. Following that, a member of the Country Club paired up with a Wounded Warrior in the tournament.
All in all, more than $30,000 was raised for the Wounded Warriors Project. The money was raised through the participants, as well as many members of the Five Towns community donating money and prizes.
The day culminated with a dinner and cocktail reception, with 300-plus attendees. In addition to the donated money, businesses and companies from around the Five Towns community contributed gift cards, prizes, sports tickets and many other things that were part of a silent auction, live auction and a raffle. More than 150 prizes were available, with all of the proceeds benefiting the Wounded Warriors Project. The event was in its first year, but its success ensured that the Wounded Warriors will be back at Lawrence next year.
Sportime Tennis Pro Scores Love for Kent Animal Shelter
Sportime Quogue tennis pro Dave Herman organized a doubles tennis tournament on Labor Day weekend to benefit Kent Animal Shelter, with sponsorship of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, and raised $4,200 for homeless pets.
“We’re very grateful to Dave Herman, Sportime Quogue, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Quality Metal Stamping LLC, and all of the players who participated,” said Pamela Green, executive director of Kent Animal Shelter, a private no-kill shelter that has been based in Calverton since 1968. “The funds donated will do a lot of good for homeless, abandoned, abused and neglected pets.”
Kent Animal Shelter is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization established as a no-kill haven for abandoned, neglected or abused animals. For more information about Kent Animal Shelter, visit www.kentanimalshelter.com.
Pictured here: Dave Herman, tennis pro at Sportime Quogue, with Pamela Green of Kent Animal Shelter
Shelter Rock Raises Record $53,000 for Play for P.I.N.K. Organization
By Lee Raisfeld
The Shelter Rock Tennis Club and Country Club family gathered recently for a fun-filled afternoon of great tennis and charity, raising a grand total of $53,000 for the Play for P.I.N.K. (Prevention, Immediate diagnosis, New technology, Knowledge) organization. For the second consecutive year, Shelter Rock hosted a Play for P.I.N.K. tennis tournament to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Robin Deitch Nogrady, host of the event, is a breast cancer survivor and the driving force behind Shelter Rock’s Play for P.I.N.K. day. Shelter Rock Tennis club is proud to have raised the highest amount of money of any tennis only club in the country.
Nearly 160 tennis members, family and friends participated in men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed-doubles events throughout the day. The doubles teams were divided by skill and played four 30-minute sessions. Winners of each flight were awarded prizes donated by the Play for P.I.N.K. organization. Taking place throughout the day were local vendors, raffles and a silent auction where proceeds helped raise funds for the charity. After the afternoon of tennis, a buffet dinner was served to more than 225 attendees.
The success of the event was attributed to the hard work and dedication of a group of individuals, including the dedicated staff of Shelter Rock Tennis Club, including Director of Tennis Rick Liebman, his wife Monica, Head Pro Robin Deitch Nogrady, Alex Zarek and Dean Nogrady (from Engineers Country Club). The first and second place finishers received awards from Play for P.I.N.K.
Many thanks also to the outstanding efforts from the ladies of Shelter Rock, under the leadership of Co-Chairs Ellen Fuller and Laura Genova, the backbone of the day’s events. The women sold banners, gathered raffle prizes, wrapped gifts and decorated Shelter Rock to make it look and feel festive. This is the second year that Ellen and Laura have extended themselves with outstanding results.
Play for P.I.N.K. has been informally adopted by country clubs across Long Island to raise money through golf, tennis and card party events (Shelter Rock added canasta to this year’s activities schedule). All of the money donated to Play for P.I.N.K. is given to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to support life saving research grants to help save lives. The Bloomberg Organization supports the charity, Wilson Sporting Goods supplied the pink tennis balls and Estee Lauder provided each player with a goodie bag filled with products.
Lee Raisfeld is executive board member of Shelter Rock Tennis Club & Country Club. Lee may be reached by e-mail at lee.raisfeld@ferguson.com. Credit photo below to Reuben Kleiner.
