About
Chris Evert Charities
“While
tennis has been my profession, helping needy children has been my passion.
For almost a decade it has been my pleasure to work in partnership
with The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida to help hundreds
of substance-abusing moms get the help they need to give
their children a good start in life.”
—Chris Evert
“I
always wanted to have my own charity program, but there
just wasn’t time when I was playing. I did not want
to do it in name only— where I wouldn’t be active
in organizing and overseeing it.”
—Chris Evert
Chris
retired from Professional Tennis in September 1989, after
her final match in the U.S. Open. One month later, Chrissie
was back on the tennis court hosting the first Chris Evert
Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic in Boca Raton, Florida.
The
first fundraiser for Chris Evert Charities drew widespread
attention in the international press. It was proclaimed
the most
successful, first-year benefit in tennis history. The 1989
event raised more than $350,000 before a sold-out crowd
and a national television audience.
That
inaugural event benefited a campus of drug treatment facilities
in one of the poorest neighborhoods of South Florida. The
treatment facility was built by The Drug Abuse Foundation
of Palm Beach County offering treatment and prevention programs
at all levels for troubled patients. The facility was built
with virtually all labor and materials donated from the
community, but with no funding for operations. With the
funds provided by Chris Evert Charities, the facility was
able to open its doors in early 1991 to fill an immediate
need.
Chrissie
met with Governor Martinez and HRS Secretary Greg
Coler in Tallahassee. It was decided that other programs
in the state could benefit from Evert’s superb fundraising
abilities. She joined forces with The
Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, a public/private
partnership, established in 1988, with a similar vision
as Chrissie’s.
The Ounce is committed to a proactive approach to the prevention
of family and social problems such as substance abuse by
pregnant and parenting women. With these forces united,
they agreed to a new fund matching program with the state
of Florida. Governor Martinez pledged to match, dollar for
dollar, all funds that Chris Evert gave to The Ounce, automatically
doubling Chris’ efforts for 1990 and all years following.
“The
whole idea of The Ounce of Prevention Fund is to find ways
to eliminate problems in early childhood, and mothers taking
drugs during pregnancy is one of the biggest problems children
face today.”
—T. Wayne Davis
Chairman, The Ounce of Prevention Fund
The 2007 18th Anniversary of the Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic raised an amazing $1.2 million dollars. Over $16.7 million dollars of donated funds has been distributed to worthwhile programs all over Florida. With the help of loyal and generous sponsors, participating celebrities, legions of volunteers and a dedicated staff, Chris Evert will continue to raise money to fund programs that ensure a future for at-risk children and their families.
Tennis with Chrissie and Friends – Pro-Am
Play a few sets with tennis legend Chrissie Evert. Tennis lovers have the unique opportunity to participate in the Pro-Am. Chrissie, celebrity participants and tennis-pros will be on court to hit balls and even give you a few pointers. Afterwards, sit down for lunch at the beautiful Boca Raton Resort & Club. Limited spots available . . . so sign-up early!
While
Chris has been busy with her own work at Chris Evert Charities,
she also donates her time and efforts to other worthwhile
programs including: The Special Olympics, The March of Dimes,
The Martina Navratilova Youth Foundation, The Michael Bolton
Foundation, The America AIDS Foundation, The Elton John
AIDS Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis, The Red Cross and The
U.S. Olympic Ski Team.
Board
Memberships
The
Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida
Chris serves on the board of this state-wide, public/private
group of concerned leaders in business and government, who
share her vision for the children of Florida. Through her
active involvement in this non-profit organization, the
State legislature has matched, dollar-for-dollar, all the
funds she has raised.
Make-A-Wish
Foundation of South Florida
Chris is on the Advisory Board of this organization whose
mission is to grant the wish of any child between the ages
of 2 1/2 and 18 who has a terminal or life threatening illness
which creates the probability that the child will not reach
his or her eighteenth year.
Florida
Sports Foundation
Appointed in October 1991 by Governor Lawton Chiles, Chris
serves on this board whose goal is to promote the sports
industry in a way that is consistent with the best interests
of the State of Florida.
United
Sports Fans of America
Chris is on the Advisory Board of this national organization
dedicated to representing the interests of fans. Its purpose
is to improve the quality of sports in America by giving
fans a voice by conducting surveys via the Internet (www.usfans.com)
and giving the results to players, owners, sports writers,
agents and news media.
Save
the Children
Chris joined the advisory board in 1992. Save the Children
helps communities identify their problems and find solutions
appropriate to their culture and environment. Their goal
is to help people turn dependence into self-reliance.
American
AIDS Association
Along with Michael Bolton, Whitney Houston, Joan Lunden
and Kathie Lee Gifford, Chris serves on this advisory board
aimed at assisting the fight against AIDS & HIV.
Women’s
Sports Foundation
Chris has been on the board of the Women’s Sports
Foundation since March of 1990.
The WSF Board sets policy and direction for this national
nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting
the sports experience for girls and women.
International
Tennis Hall of Fame
Founded in 1954, The International Hall of Fame is committed
to the preservation and development of tennis as a game
and sport and to the future growth of tennis. Chris has
been on the board since 1990.
The
Don Shula Foundation
Dedicated to breast cancer research, Don Shula formed the
Don Shula Foundation in 1991 after his late wife Dorothy's
long bout with this dreadful disease. Chris has recently
become a member of the honorary board and is proud to support
Don Shula in the fight to eradicate breast cancer.
National
Committee to Prevent Child Abuse
Music superstar Michael Bolton introduced Chris to this
important group. She joined the honorary board in Dec. 1993.
The
Buoniconti Fund
Chris is one of the founding board members along with Nick
and Marc Buoniconti, Gloria Estefan and others in the fight
to cure paralysis.
Palm
Beach County Sports Authority
Chris serves as the Honorary Chairperson for the Youth Programs
Committee that develops leaders of tomorrow through sports.
Chris Evert Charities partners with The
Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, a public -private
partnership administered with the State of Florida, to raise
money for needy programs which otherwise would not be fully-funded
by the State. The Ounce of Prevention Fund matches moneys
raised through the Chris Evert/Bank of America Pro-Celebrity
Tennis Classic.
Chris
Evert Charities is a non-profit foundation under section
501©3 of IRS code
Photos courtesy of Alese and Morton Pechter |
