NYJTL to Host 30th Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon

October 9, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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On Tuesday, Nov. 3, New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) will hold its 30th Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon and honor Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, photographer, author and consultant, and two-time Olympic Gold medalists Gigi Fernandez and Mary Joe Fernandez. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt–Manhattan Ballroom, located at Park Avenue at Grand Central, New York City at noon.

NYJTL is dedicated to developing the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. Last year’s event raised an unprecedented $1.88 million, funds that support NYJTL’s ability to provide free tennis lessons, afterschool programming, and much more to children and young adults across the city. Earlier this year, NYJTL launched its flagship site, the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, in Crotona Park in the South Bronx.

The Luncheon’s event chairs are: Lawrence B. Benenson, Peter L. Malkin, and Polly Scott, and event committee members are: Peter Bicks, Carole and Donald Dell, Benjamin Doller, Mark Ein, Lisa Askenase Konsker, Dalia Leeds, Suzanne Lengyel, Stacey Locker, Bernadette Longford, Lauren Mallon, Lawrence Mandelker, Beth and Josh Nash, Missie Rennie, Gordon Smith and Madan Suri.

Photographer Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe has devoted many years to civic causes in health, arts, education and urban issues. Her work has appeared in many publications as well as in solo and group exhibitions around the world. In 2008 she founded the Arthur Ashe Learning Center (AALC), an educational nonprofit organization. Under her leadership, the AALC raised more than $1 million to support the AALC Inspirational Tour Exhibit. The Inspirational Tour exhibit examines the life and legacy of Arthur R. Ashe, Jr. through the lenses of tennis and sport, youth and education, health and wellness, and civic engagement and active citizenship.

With 17 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic Gold medals, Gigi Fernandez ranks among the greatest doubles players of all time. Dedicated to developing Puerto Rican tennis, Fernandez worked with the island’s Fed Cup and Olympic teams, and in 2000 was name Puerto Rico’s Female Athlete of the Century. In 2010, Gigi was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Today Gigi spends her time heading the Gigi Fernandez Charitable Foundation as well as helping aspiring tennis players to master doubles strategy.

Born in Dominican Republic and raised in Miami, Mary Joe Fernandez first came to the tennis world’s attention as an outstanding junior player, winning four consecutive Orange Bowl junior titles. She went on to become a 3-time Grand Slam singles finalist and a bronze medalist in singles at the 1992 Olympics. In addition she won two Grand Slam titles and two Olympic Gold medals in doubles. Since retiring as a player in 2000 with a 437-203 singles record, she has continued her involvement in tennis working as a coach, commentator and advocate for the growth of the sport. Fernandez has been voted the second-most influential Hispanic female athlete of all time by a panel of blue-ribbon voters assembled by espnW and ESPN Deportes.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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