On
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, a high-profile crowd of tennis legends, sports
enthusiasts, New York City officials and local community members gathered
on a beautiful summer evening for the first annual Tennis Champions for
Children Benefit at the new SPORTIME at Randall's Island tennis
facility hosted by the Randall's Island Sports Foundation.
The
gala benefit honored New York's hometown tennis heroes Billie Jean
King, Chris Lacopo, Eugene L. Scott (in memoriam) and Ken Solomon and
was held in conjunction with an exciting Advanta World TeamTennis Special
Legends match between the NY Sportimes featuring John McEnroe and the
Boston Lobsters featuring Martina Navratilova.
The evening began with
guests enjoying cocktails and hors d'œuvres as they checked out
the impressive new tennis center and stadium and mingled with the tennis
stars. Following cocktails, guests moved out to the packed 2,000 seat
stadium filled with New York's tennis enthusiasts ready to enjoy
the evening's match. Between games, guests dined courtside and
relaxed on SPORTIME's outdoor terrace with gourmet picnic fare.
During half-time, Benefit chair Tori Dauphinot led a special awards ceremony.
Both John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova provided heartfelt praise to
each honoree for their special contributions to the world of tennis and
young aspiring tennis stars from The Randall's Island Sports foundation
helped present the Tennis Champions for Children awards. Proceeds from
the evening benefit the Randall's Island Sports Foundation (RISF)
and the tens of thousands of children from East Harlem and the South
Bronx it serves every year through free sports and recreational programming.
Guests included: Katie Couric, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Martina
Navratilova, NYC Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe ,
NYC Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba, RISF founder & president Karen
Cohen, RISF chairman Rich Davis, Aimee Boden, Benefit chair Tori Dauphinot,
Chris Lacopo, Polly Scott, Ken Solomon , Sportime Managing Partner Claude
Okin, NY Sportimes Coach Chuck Adams, Bennett Schlansky, Patricia Shifke,
Susan Danilow, Jerry Goldman, Dean Landis, Nancy Neff, Rodney Cohen,
Bradford Peck, Bimla Picot, Waide Warner, Anne Wilson, Pinky Keehner,
Dan Weinstein, Bonnie Strauss, Lauren Cohen Starr, Karen Klopp, Francis
Angelino, Ricardo Zurita, Carol Angelino, Michelle Beaulieu, Kelli Bender,
Lisa Cashin, Dale Burch, Marnie Worth, Marjorie Torres, Aila Main, Anella
Bokhari, Patricia Wanadi, Jenna Herold, among others.
