NEW YORK — Celebrity typically comes with a privileged existence. It also delivers power, which could be used to do good deeds throughout the world.
As global stars, many tennis players embrace the responsibility of charitable involvement and work to raise money for a variety of causes. Almost every top player you can think of — Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens, and many others —- have foundations stamped with their names in front.
For the most part, players tend to show a preference toward charitable endeavors to help socio-economically disadvantaged children, and often combine the focus of education and sport.
Stephens, the US Open defending champion who was eliminated Tuesday, designed her charity to offer assistance with after-school, Saturday and recess tennis.
MORE: Roger Federer upset by John Millman in Round of 16 at US Open
MORE: Maria Sharapova falls in fourth round to Carla Suarez Navarro
MORE: It's time to pay attention to the USA's Madison Keys
“I started it because I love kids,” Stephens said. “I think tennis has given me a lot in my life. Given me a lot of opportunities to travel the world, see the world, free education through the WTA. I've been able to meet incredible people.
“I think the opportunity to give back is very special,” she added. “I think my passion is definitely showing kids how to play tennis, spending time with them, making them see that you can grow up and be a professional tennis player, you can grow up and play on your high school team, go to college. I think that's very important.”
Stephens’ foundation has a partnership element with the USTA Foundation, which also emphasizes education and tennis. The USTA Foundation, which is led by former school teacher Dan Faber, is the charitable arm of the USTA.
“Our mission is to combine the powerful combination of tennis and education together to change lives,” Faber said. “We are trying to impact the lives of kids who don’t have access to our sport and quality education.”
The USTA Foundation primarily funds the National Junior Tennis and Learning Network (NJTL), originally known as the National Junior Tennis League, and which was co-founded by the late Arthur Ashe. The NJTL provides resources to 350 non-profit organizations with their program helping over 200,000 youth.
On the opening night of the US Open, the USTA Foundation featured an evening gala in the President’s Box at Arthur Ashe stadium — tickets cost $5,000 to $10,000 — raising $1.6 million for the cause.
Chris Evert, who holds the yearly Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Classic to raise money for various causes in South Florida, is a supporter of the USTA Foundation. She has a fund with the foundation named for her late father, Jimmy Evert, which raises money to support 13 teams across the country that are made up of youth players wanting to go beyond basic tennis, and tracks these players toward college scholarships.
Federer, whose mother is from South Africa, and Serena Williams, who opened a school in Kenya, have made many charitable trips to Africa on top of hosting fund-raisers.
Reigning Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki is involved with a number of children-oriented charities. She remembers taking trips to volunteer for Project Medishare For Haiti a few years ago.
“One of my best friends runs this huge charity in Haiti, so I went to Haiti a couple of times and helped out, and just saw what she was doing,” Wozniacki said. “You know, you realize, especially when I was in Haiti, how little they have, but how extremely happy the kids are. We would see kids getting out of school, and they haven't had any food all day, but they're waiting for dinner to get a little bit of rice, a little food, and they are still happy, holding hands, singing and dancing. It just puts things in perspective.”
When John Isner was in a financial and notable position to begin raising money for a charity there wasn’t any question the majority of his efforts would be for the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where his mom was treated for colon cancer.
He also continues to support fundraising for a family that was a neighbor when he lived in Tampa and had two daughters who suffered from the muscular disease, Friedreich’s Ataxia.
“I think first and foremost, my mom has inspired me,” said Isner, when asked how he selected his charity. “I mean, that's the charity of my choice. That's the hospital that I donate to. I think for me, it's a no-brainer. So I have said it a lot, they have certainly saved my mother's life and saved countless lives. They do amazing things there.
“For me to give back in a small way I think is absolutely necessary, something that I should do all the time,” Isner said. “So I'm going to continue to do that.”
And in all likelihood, a multitude of charities around the world can rely on many of Isner’s colleagues supporting causes close to their hearts.
Source: Read Full Article