Nationals raise money for charities

When the Long Island Platform Tennis Association (LIPTA) undertook responsibility to conduct the Men’s and Women’s National Championships in March, it decided to designate the Children’s House and the Interfaith Nutrition Network as co-beneficiaries of the net proceeds of the fund-raising efforts for the event.

These two recipients were chosen because of the involvement by two of LIPTA’s Directors with the organizations. Alfred Devendorf presented the case for the Children’s House, and Gloria Grafer represented the INN.

Initially, there was great skepticism among the Tournament Committee as to whether a worthwhile sum could be expected to be raised, because the previous championships, in Chicago and Philadelphia, had not made a profit.

Once the charities were named, the fundraising and volunteering of services moved ahead quickly. Sport clothing with the logo of the championship was sold to raise funds; local club teams placed advertisements in the program, and four major sponsors, Norstar Bank, Mobil Corporation, EAB and Hallen Construction were signed. The success of the event allowed a donation of $11,000 to be made to each named charity

Source: Platform Tennis News, Summer 1992