Props to the Pros! Tennis Celebs Participate in Annual Fundraiser at Michael-Ann Russell JCC

March 16, 2012 - PRLog -- The 18th Annual Tennis Fest Pro-Am, sponsored by BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company and PURE, was held again at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center located on the Sanford L. Ziff Campus, 18900 NE 25th Avenue, North Miami Beach, on Sunday, March 11 with an all-star line up of professional tennis celebrities.
The week-end long event that raised $45,000 for MAR-JCC scholarships, began on Saturday evening, March 10, at the MAR-JCC’s Elsie’s Café with a Cocktail Party & Pro Auction sponsored by Abbot Downing, where participating players bid to play with former and current professionals such as Freddy Azucey (Dom), Allan Benarrouch (Venezuela), Matt Bocko (Croatia), Diego Brunicardi (Venezuela), Lorenzo Cava (Ecuador), Anthony Emerson (USA), Rick Fagel (USA), Christian Guevara (USA), Stefano Ianni (Italy), Horacio Rearte (Argentina), Maurice Ruah (Venezuela), Dimitry Surchenko (Russia), Ales Svigelj (Slovenia), Justin Touchstone (USA), and Van Winitsky (USA) – to name a few! “The caliber of players we assembled this year was as high as that of an ATP Tournament,” mentioned Donna Tollefsen, Director of Tennis at the MAR-JCC. “We had a great combination of current top players and previous champions,” Tollefsen added.

Two Draws were held for this year’s Pro-Am, winners included:
For the Agassi/Sampras Draw; Winners were Amateur Marty Scheck and Pro Ales Svigelj from Slovenia – ATP Player who has won 2 Futures in Doubles, #2 for Barry University. Runners Up were Amateur Ricardo Dimitri and Pro Freddy Azucey from the Dominican Republic - former ATP & Dominican Republic Davis Cup winner.  For the Connors/McEnroe Draw; Winners were Amateur Abe Batievsky and Pro Diego Brunicardi from Venezuela - former ATP player. Runners Up were Amateur David Houri , and Pro Maurice Ruah from Venezuela who is a former ATP Player and the top 70 in the world.

Proceeds from this Premier Event which was open to the public and happened to fall in the middle of the month of premier Tennis Events in South Florida, will benefit the under privileged families and seniors who need scholarship assistance to participate in various programs at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center.“ For information on being a sponsor for next years Annual Tennis Fest, contact Elizabeth Mitrani, MAR-JCC Development Director at 305-932-4200 x114 e-mail: elizabethm@marjcc.org.

About BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company and PURE  - BB&T Insurance Services is a subsidiary of BB&T, one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company has been providing insurance and risk management advice to families since the 1920’s through more than 100 agencies. With a client retention rate of 93% and a distinct ability to help clients identify and manage risk and implement cost-effective coverage, BB&T was the recipient of the 2011 Greenwich Excellence Award for Customer Satisfaction. For promotional purposes, PURE refers to the members of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies, “the PURE Group”.  With nearly $100 million of surplus capital, the PURE Group is rated “A-” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Through a select group of highly qualified independent agents, including BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company, PURE provides coverage for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability and watercraft to more than 13,000 successful individuals and families in 31 markets across the U.S.

About Abbot Downing – Abbot Downing is a boutique within Wells Fargo that serves ultra high net worth individuals and families, their foundations and endowments. The Abbot Downing brand will be introduced on April 2, 2012, combining two existing Wells Fargo businesses, Lowry Hill and Wells Fargo Family Wealth. Abbot Downing goes beyond traditional financial services by helping our clients address the financial, social and personal dimensions of unique wealth.

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The Michael-Ann Russell JCC is dedicated to the enrichment of Jewish life, representing a model of acceptance, understanding and diversity. The MAR-JCC is a beneficiary agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and United Way of Miami-Dade.