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ATP Launches Kids First Initiative; Gambill
Named 2001 ATP Kids First Chairman As
part of the Kids First initiative, ATP player Jan-Michael Gambill has been named
as 2001 ATP Kids First Chairman. Assuming
the post from last season’s chairman Tim Henman, Gambill will participate in
on-site charity events and presentations and act as a spokesman for ATP Kids
First. “I am
extremely proud and excited to be the 2001 ATP Kids First Chairman,” said
Gambill. “Over the last three
years, I’ve actively supported the Cat Tales Zoological Park in Mead,
Washington, USA. But I’m
especially looking forward this year to branching out my charity efforts and
helping children and tennis in my role as ATP Kids First Chairman.” ATP Kids
First reinforces the efforts made everyday by players, tournaments, staff and
fans who support various charities, grass roots and promotional programs.
The program is committed to “Giving Kids an Advantage” and will bring
a variety of activities and events to locations around the world.
“ATP Kids
First encapsulates all that we, the governing body, the players and tournaments
do to support children,” said ATP Chief Executive Officer Mark Miles. “By
linking our international efforts, we can provide more support and also spread
the word about the many important charitable activities provided by the men’s
tennis circuit.” In 2001, ATP
Kids First will sponsor on-site activities at the following tournaments: Kroger
St. Jude, Memphis, TN, USA; Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells, Indian Wells,
CA, USA; Tennis Masters Series Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo, Monaco; Nottingham
Open, Nottingham, United Kingdom. The
new initiative was launched in Memphis with ATP, tournament and player
representatives on-hand for the festivities. Gambill along with Mac Winker,
Kroger St. Jude owner and 1999 winner of the ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the
Year award, welcomed the group and participated in on-court and media
activities. As
part of his new role, Gambill, who finished last year at No. 33 in the ATP
Champions Race and is featured as one of the ATP’s “News Ball Please”
brigade of rising stars, will donate $20 USD for every ace he serves in 2001, a
figure that will be matched by the ATP. Gambill
also plans to donate $5,000 USD for any tournament title that he wins in 2001.
All funds raised will go to Gambill’s specially designated groups, the
Boys and Girls Club of Spokane, Washington, USA, and the Washington Tennis
Association. Additionally,
Gambill’s clothing and footwear provider, adidas, will contribute an
undisclosed sum and technical products for the two groups. ATP Kids
First will continue to build on the ten-year efforts of the former ATP Charities
program. Since 1990, ATP Charities
has helped to raise more than $24 million USD for various charities and programs
worldwide. Gambill
joins an elite group of ATP Charities/Kids First Chairmen including Stefan
Edberg, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Guy Forget, Tim Henman, Andrei Medvedev,
Gustavo Kuerten, Goran Ivanisevic, Pete Sampras and co-chairmen Todd Woodbridge
and Mark Woodforde. For further
information, please contact:
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