Carefree Raises Money For Autism Speaks With Charity Zone

With April serving as Autism Awareness Month across the country, Carefree Racquet Club wanted to bring players together for a fun day of tennis while doing its part to support the cause of Autism Awareness and give back to the community.

That desire produced the Autism Awareness Charity Zone where dozens of adult tennis players took part in drills and games led by teaching pros. In the Zone format, players rotate courts which gives them the opportunity to play with a multitude of players and coaches.

“I have been coming to Carefree since about 2006, and playing here is always a good time. I love all the ladies here, and love getting involved in any type of charitable events that go on here. They are genuine,” said Tatyana Battaglia. “It was so much fun. The pros are great, the courts are pristine, and we just have a really good time. I’m having a blast today. I don’t have a chance to play as much tennis as I would like, so I am picky about when I play, but I could not miss an event like this.”

When the on-court portion of the event was complete, participants gathered in the lobby to enjoy a catered lunch as raffle prizes were given out.

The event was put together by Kristen Cassidy, who serves as league director, assistant manager, and part-time teaching pro at Carefree Racquet Club. As a kid attending MacArthur High School in Levittown, she became very active in supporting Autism Awareness fundraisers and events, and organized a tennis charity event during her senior year involving the large ABA program at the school.

“I found it to be such a positive and impactful event for all involved,” Cassidy said. “Autism Speaks is a fantastic charity, and we thought it would be a great program to help raise money for in the hopes of continuing to improve the lives of children and adults with autism.”

The event was a success, and in addition to all who participated, there were also many people who were unable to attend but were gracious enough to still donate. Raffle prizes included gift cards to local restaurants, free court time, free lessons and more, and in total, Carefree raised nearly $3,000, all of which was donated to Autism Speaks.

“I was so pleased with the turnout and support from our amazing customers,” Cassidy said. “Everyone was able to have fun and were happy to contribute towards a great cause.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM CAREFREE’S AUTISM AWARENESS EVENT