Mardy Fish’s Charity Event Raises $145,000
The Sixth Annual Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest was held in Vero Beach, Fla. on Dec. 9-10, as the official host sponsor, Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club, hosted the Kids’ Tennis Clinic, Reception and Tennis Exhibition, featuring top-ranked American tennis player, Mardy Fish. Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest to Benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation and Jake Owen Foundation continues to increase awareness and raise revenues for the Foundations’ mission to assist youth in Indian River County.
The Mardy Fish Foundation and Jake Owen Foundation are pleased to announce that despite weather challenges, with the support of the sponsors and the Indian River County community, each activity of the event was sold out and Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest raised more than $145,000 through sponsorships and revenue from the tennis and reception held on Dec. 9. Although inclement weather and public safety concerns forced the rescheduling of the concert, the 2011 Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest is the most successful event in the history of the annual fundraiser for the Mardy Fish Foundation and Jake Owen Foundation.
To date, more than 2,000 students at 13 elementary schools have participates in the Mardy Fish Foundation Achievable Dreams After School and Club Programs, and more than 1,000 children participate in Mardy’s Kids on Court. The Jake Owen Foundation also continues to assist youth who are battling childhood diseases through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“I am very proud to announce that the sixth annual Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest is our most successful fundraiser yet,” said Fish. “I want to thank our sponsor and all patrons for once again supporting this important cause. Even though the weather did not cooperate, our attendees had a great time and have enabled us to make our biggest contribution ever to the youth of Indian River County.”
The Kids Tennis Clinic kicked off the weekend on Friday, Dec. 9 at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club. Approximately 100 children participated and received instruction from 10 local tennis professionals, as well as event host Mardy Fish.
That evening, Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest continued with the Country Western-themed Reception hosted by Master of Ceremonies Sportscaster Brett Haber with the live and silent auction and tennis exhibition. The sold-out reception hosted nearly 300 guests, while the tennis exhibition brought in more than 1,500 patrons. The auction featured original artwork, a trip to New York City for the 2012 U.S. Open quarterfinals, a luxurious getaway to Los Angeles featuring dinner at the most popular restaurants, lodging at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, tickets to Los Angeles Dodgers games at the new Miami Marlins Stadium, tickets from Mardy Fish to the Farmers Tennis Classic, autographed guitars by RCA recording artists Jake Owen and Chris Young and exclusive President’s Box Seats to the 2012 U.S. Open earning the highest auction bid of $4,200. Guests also enjoyed a dance performance by members of the Mardy Fish Foundation Dance Team and a presentation that included a question and answer session with Mardy’s Kids on Court participant Sebastian Mendoza.
The rain-delayed Tennis Exhibition began with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem sung by Kaitlyn Bertrand who is a graduate of the Mardy Fish Foundation After School Program and featured one set of singles between Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey. Fish edged out Querrey in a competitive match, 6-4.
The crowd was then delighted by the arrival of tennis legend Serena Williams who was as a late addition to the stellar line- up of the Tennis Exhibition. Following singles, Mardy Fish and Serena Williams won an entertaining 6-3 doubles match against Mike Bryan and Melanie Oudin. The players continued to play through the rain while all the fans stayed to enjoy the fun competitive points. Bob Bryan was on hand for the Tennis Exhibition and Reception while Jake Owen also joined the crowd for the tennis matches. Between matches the crowd was treated to a special performance by the dance teams from the Mardy Fish Music Club and Health & Fitness Club from Pelican Island Elementary School.
Due to weather conditions and public safety concerns the Jake Owen Concert with Special Guest Chris Young had to be cancelled and will be rescheduled after the New Year. The concert sold out Holman Stadium at Vero Beach Sports Village for the second consecutive year. The VIP Concert Reception for sponsors took place with 200 in attendance and additional items auctioned off, including autographed memorabilia from Nashville recording artists Owen and Chris Young, and from many more of Nashville’s stars.
