MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The West Virginia University Hospitals-East City Hospital Foundation will sponsor its eighth annual tennis classic on Saturday, September 10 at Saint James School in Saint James, MD. Organized by a group of local physicians, the event was established in 2004 as a fund raiser to benefit City Hospital.
According to Frank Sabado, MD, committee chairman, a number of physicians on staff at City Hospital play tennis on a weekly basis. It was during one of those weekly sessions that they started talking about organizing a tennis tournament to benefit the hospital. “That’s how it all began. And now, here we are, eight years and $88,000 later,” Sabado said, referring to the total net proceeds to date from the event.
Last year, the committee voted to spend a portion of the $12,000 in proceeds to establish a cancer comfort fund known as the “C” fund to benefit WVUH-East Regional Cancer Program patients. The remaining funds were donated to the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia to help fund renovations of their new office on Winchester Avenue in Martinsburg.
This year’s tennis classic goal has been set at $15,000, and organizers are still unsure how the money will be used. “It was a great feeling to know that the money we raised last year helped establish the cancer comfort fund and assist another not-for-profit in the community that provides needed services for kids,” Sabado commented. “I can assure all donors that the money will be put to good use again this year,” he added.
The annual City Hospital Foundation tennis classic is under the direction of tennis pro Ron Fassig. The tournament is a round robin format with the highest scoring doubles awarded. Trophies will be awarded to the top two players in the men’s and women’s divisions, along with the player with the most aces. In order to participate, registrants must be 18 years old by September 1, 2011.
Registration begins at 8:00 am at the St. James School tennis courts, with play to begin at 9 am. The individual player entry fee is $100. Corporate sponsorships are also available at $1000, $500 and $250 levels. An awards ceremony with lunch, provided by Sodexo, will immediately follow the conclusion of play.
For more information on the 2011 tennis classic, contact the City Hospital Foundation at 304-264-1223.