Main Line Golf Club Holds Fundraiser For Youth Tennis

VILLANOVA, PA -- The Down the Line and Beyond Foundation, a Haverford-based non-profit whose mission is to empower youth for lifetime success through tennis and character development, will hosts its 6th Annual Gala on Friday, April 15, 2016 from 6:30 pm to midnight at the Overbrook Golf Club (Villanova, Pa.). This year’s event, which serves as the primary fundraiser for Down the Line, features an exciting line-up of silent auction items, including:

- Dixie Chicks and Reba McEntire signed guitars

- Two weeks of tennis training under Nick Bollettieri at IMG Academy (Fla.)

- Giant tennis ball signed by Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Mary Carillo, and other greats of women’s tennis

- One-week stays in mansions located in Cabo, South of France and Dominican Republic

- Rounds of golf at some of the most exclusive courses in the world, including Merion Golf Club, Philadelphia Country Club, Stonewall Golf Club and Saucon Valley Golf Club

Nick Bollettieri, who trained 10 world number one ranked tennis champions including Andre Agassi and Venus and Serena Williams, and has partnered with the Down the Line and Beyond Foundation to help strengthen and expand its programs, will be on-hand as well.

In addition, a two-year lease on a 2016 BMW 320i will be raffled off to one lucky guest, courtesy of West German BMW. Tickets start for the gala start at $175 per person, with sponsorship and advertisement opportunities still available. For more information, including the full list of auction items, visit http://bidpal.net/downthelinegala

“Through the vehicle of tennis, Down the Line has been able to make a large impact on children in inner-city Philadelphia by teaching them important character and leadership skills in a fun environment,” said Down the Line founder Pascal Collard. “In order to continue to grow our outreach, support from the community is critical. We look forward to our annual Gala as a significant fundraising event as well as an enjoyable night with our supporters.”

Down the Line is a USTA affiliated National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) 501(c)(3) organization that uses tennis as a means to provide children in under-resourced communities with character-building guidance in a positive, fun, healthy learning environment. The Outreach Program includes year-round after-school and summer tennis and character development clinics for 1,000 inner-city children in seven Philadelphia locations. Down The Line, using new USTA 10- and-under equipment, is able to teach tennis in parks, gyms, classrooms and even basements. Children who are interested in developing their tennis game and personal character further join the Junior Ambassador Program which stresses the importance of having good character and what that means throughout their lives. Down the Line’s ambassadors consistently volunteer and participate in community activities for other organizations.

Through its outreach, Down the Line works to dramatically improve opportunities for children in the City of Philadelphia. In order to maintain that mission, the organization needs support to provide:

- Greater access to tennis courts,

- More clinic coaches,

- Transportation for the children to travel to the clinics, and

- Various types of equipment, including the development of both permanent and portable courts.

Down the Line also hopes to create initiatives to increase the involvement of parents and other adults in tennis to help grow the tennis community in Philadelphia. In 2016, the organization expects to reach 2,000 students, more than double the number of children involved in 2015.

Down the Line recently announced a new partnership with International and Black Tennis Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri through which he is working with to explore ways to expand Down the Line’s programs and impact. Bollettieri is also providing technical expertise by developing, together with Down the Line, a teaching curriculum for program coaches and on-court instruction.