Southern California-based First Break Academy will close out a successful 2017 by hosting a morning of tennis clinics and games for juniors and adults at the historic Jack Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Area professional tennis stars past and present will be on court hitting with kids and adult event participants in the first annual Los Angeles Tennis Bash 2017. Pros expected to attend include 22-time Grand Slam champion and First Break benefactor Pam Shriver; two-time US Open champion former world No. 1 Tracy Austin; current WTA pros Shelby Rogers and Nicole Gibbs; and current ATP pros Steve Johnson, Jared Donaldson, Taylor Fritz and Bradley Klahn, among others. The star-studded event will also include former Grand Slam champion Kimberly Po, Jeff Tarango, who was recently named the new director of tennis at the Kramer Club, and former WTA pro Lauren Embree, the women’s assistant coach at Pepperdine University, which will also be represented by players from the team.
“For the past few years, First Break Academy has brought children to tennis who might otherwise not have been exposed to the sport,” she the Hall of Famer Shriver. “Multi-sport play like basketball is merged into early tennis instruction with great success. It’s a win-win model.”
The day will also include competitive tennis games for all levels, a Head Racquet Demo Court, MultiSport Kid Zone, lunch and silent auction.
“We are incredibly grateful for the many pros and friends who have signed on to participate in the event,” said Peggy Bott, First Break Academy Executive Director. “We have made tremendous strides in a short time, and wish to build and continue to fund scholarships for dedicated youth who attend our tennis and learning programs.”
To Register for LA Tennis Bash 2017, go to: www.first1break.com. Tickets are $75 for adults and $40 for juniors (17 and under) and spectators are $35, which includes lunch and the silent auction access. Levels of sponsorships include: Champion ($1,500), Finalist ($750), Semifinalist ($500), Quarterfinalist ($250) and Friend ($50), and auction items exceeding $100 are also being accepted.
Bott has announced that WTA Charities has signed on with the event as a Champion-level sponsor with both Shriver and Austin serving on the Board of Directors. There are three pillars of action within WTA Charities, including service, assistance aimed at those in need and support reinforcing WTA members’ charitable initiatives through financial and promotional efforts and aligning with organizations that help advance lives through empowerment, equality and care for others. For more information, go to: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/legends-lead-wta-charities
L.A. Tennis Bash 2017 committee members include Bott, Rick Buchta, Jeff Tarango, Marc Lucero, Shriver, Sophia Bott, Stacey Sewell, Craig Purcell, Tiffany Mai and Trynna Johnson.