NYJTL Raises $450K-Plus at Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon

November 5, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Matthew Ziegler

New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) recently held its 30th Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon at the Grand Hyatt New York, raising more than $450,000 to support its free community tennis programs, tournament team training, after-school programming and other tennis and education activities for children and young adults across the city.

At the Luncheon, NYJTL presented Leadership Awards to three honorees: Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, photographer, author and consultant; and two-time Olympic gold medalists Gigi Fernandez and Mary Joe Fernandez. Emmy Award-winning sports reporter Russ Thaler emceed the event, which drew 300-plus attendees.

“We are grateful to everyone who attended NYJTL’s 30th Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon to support our enduring commitment to transforming the lives of young people through tennis and education,” said Dr. Deborah Antoine, president and chief executive officer of NYJTL. “Our honorees, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Gigi Fernandez and Mary Joe Fernandez, truly embody our values, and are so deserving of our Leadership Awards.”

"We hope that by being here today to support NYJTL, we can reinforce the importance of what NYJTL is doing to guarantee that tennis and educational opportunities for underserved youth continue to expand in the future,” said Fernandez. "Our stories are only relevant insofar as they prove that achieving dreams is possible. We hope to continue to make a difference by working with the USTA to promote Hispanic participation by speaking directly to the next generation of players.”

NYJTL also recognized the accomplishments of three of its current program participants. The student honorees were Alex Chiu, recipient of the NYJTL Achievement Award; Tajimarie Preddie, recipient of the NYJTL Character Award; and Eric Blackshear, recipient of the Irwin Askenase Sportsmanship Award.

“This thriving organization is a testament not only to tennis and sport, but also an example of what it means to live in America and dream big,” said Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe.

The Luncheon’s event chairs were: Lawrence B. Benenson, Peter L. Malkin and Polly Scott, and event committee members were: 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.

Every dollar raised at the Luncheon will go directly to support NYJTL programs thanks to the generosity of the event’s Presenting Sponsor Lawrence B. Benenson and The Frances and Benjamin Benenson Foundation, who have underwritten the luncheon for the past 30 years. The Arnhold Family also served as a Presenting Sponsor.

Photographer 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, 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, 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.

Credit all photos to Matthew Ziegler

Presenters and award winners celebrate a successful 30th Annual NYJTL Leadership Awards Luncheon

 

The dining hall at The Grand Hyatt in New York City

 

NYJTL Senior Manager of Community Tennis Programs Scott Daly greets an associate during the Annual Awards Luncheon

 

Sponsors and donors showed their support at the NYJTL's 30th Annual Awards Luncheon  

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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