The SAP Open and the ATP take pride in contributing thousands of dollars every year to local and national charities. Below are some charities we support:
SAP OPEN HONORED BY CITY OF SAN JOSE
On Tuesday, November 4, 2004, the SAP Open (a property of Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment - SVS&E) was honored by Mayor Ron Gonzales, Councilman Forrest Williams and the entire City Council - with a special commendation for contributions made by the tournament within the San Jose community including the major tennis court resurfacing and renovation project at Los Paseos Park. The SAP Open partnered with the United States Tennis Association (USTA), NorCal to provide $17,500 in funding to repair and resurface the four courts - and to install new net posts, nets and bleachers. The work was completed at a reduced price by Vintage Contractors based in San Francisco (court installer for the SAP Open).
The ceremony took place at the weekly City Council meeting. On hand to accept the Official Commendation Plaque from Mayor Gonzales were SVS&E President and CEO Greg Jamison, SAP Open Tournament Director Bill Rapp, SAP Open Tournament Chairman Barry MacKay, SVS&E Vice President of Ticket Sales and Marketing Kent Russell, USTA Instructor Don Johnson and USTA representative Tony Silveria.
"Being actively involved in - and giving back to - our community is a vital part of what the SAP Open is about," said Tournament Director Rapp. "Partnering with USTA, NorCal, Vintage Contractors and USTA, National made this project financially possible. The SAP Open brings world-class tennis to the Silicon Valley just one week each year - but now hundreds of San Jose children and families have the opportunity to utilize a first-class tennis facility 365 days a year!"
East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring Program The East Palo Alto Tennis Program began in 1990 after two years of successful summer programs organized by Jeff Arons of the Youth Tennis Foundation, an organization that promotes tennis instruction for inner-city youth. After consultation with the superintendent of the Ravenswood City School District, Dr. Charlie Mae Knight, a plan was developed to construct a new tennis facility. Four tennis courts were built on the site of the Ravenswood Middle School (now Cesar Chavez Academy). By the spring of 1991, the program fielded a team of twelve players to compete in the middle school league and in sanctioned tennis tournaments throughout the Bay Area. In 1992, the program implemented a tutorial offering one-on-one academic assistance - by volunteer academic tutors - for 21 tennis team members. Since then, the program has grown tremendously. In 1995 the ATP honored EPATT as one of the nation's top 10 inner city tennis programs.
Today, approximately 100 children participate in both the tennis instruction and academic tutoring program. In addition, more than 100 volunteers work with the program on a consistent basis. In 1997 the program moved to Stanford University and now operates at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
