Arthur Ashe, Pancho Gonzalez, Chrissie Evert, Mike Tyson, and Billie Jean King are champions committed to a common cause: helping kids pursue education and athletic aspirations.
Now you can own some historic tennis artifacts while helping the Latin American Tennis Foundation’s youth programs in the process.
Visit the LATF’s online auction this week (until October 23) to bid on or observe some very unique items which were generously donated by Hall of Famers Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals and the families of the late Hall of Famers Arthur Ashe and Pancho Gonzalez. Even boxing great Mike Tyson gave a signed glove and the Argentina ATP Open offers a special travel package.
Proceeds from the auction benefit the LATF and its founders Love & Tennis Foundation and The Richard Pancho Gonzalez Youth Foundation which provide tennis and education programs to children in California.
The auction will conclude on Monday, October 23rd at 10 p.m. MST.
Organizers hope to raise $100,000 from the auction to help fund the Latin American Tennis Foundation’s tennis and education programs.
Check out some of these available items:
- An Arthur Ashe magazine package featuring the tennis hero on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Tennis Magazine.
- A doubles lesson taught by two-time Hall of Famer Rosie Casals. This offers the winning bidder the chance to hit balls with Hall of Famer Rosie Casals and also enjoy a 90-minute doubles clinic with three of your friends at Indian Ridge Country Club in Palm Desert.
- A three-day, two-night ticket package to the 2024 ATP Argentina Open. Visit the iconic Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club for the tournament, February 12th-18th, 2024. The winning bidder earns box seat tickets for February 14th, 15th, and 16th and the package includes two nights stay at the tournament’s official hotel where the players guest.
- Artist LeRoy Neimen’s colorful mixed doubles artwork print autographed by Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Stan Smith.
- Billie Jean King’s autographed autobiography, 2023 US Open program and artwork for the auction.
- A bronze three-and-a-half foot Bobby Riggs sculpture by artist John Petek of Montana. One of only two of Petek-created Riggs’ sculptures in existence. The other sold in the 1990s for $30,000, according to the auction house. Petek also created sculptures of Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, Muhammad Ali, and Pete Rose. Renowned painter, sculptor, artist John Petek hails from Billings, MT.
Proceeds from the auction items benefit the LATF and its ongoing youth programs.
Founded by former Latin tennis champion, Rosie Casals and family members of the legendary Pancho Gonzalez, the only champion ever inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame while still an active player, LATF offers opportunities to Latin Americans of all ages.
LATF provide high performance training and scholarships to junior competitors who qualify through an application process.
The LATF mission statement is to “offer educational and mentor programs, tennis clinics, competitive tournaments, and community events in partnership with other Latino-focused community organizations to grow awareness of the sport among the Latin American community.”
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“The Foundation has helped provide coaching to plenty of kids and also competitive players needing financial assistance to travel and compete,” Greg Gonzales, nephew of Pancho Gonzalez, and Co-Founder and Vice President of the Richard Gonzalez Youth Foundation said in an interview with tennis journalist Richard Pagliaro. “We ask tennis fans: please help our Youth Development Fund to give these kids good activities. You can donate directly or visit the auction and place a bid knowing your donation or bid is going to help our kids. Thanks for helping.”
ATP · Billie Jean King · Bobby Riggs · Chris Evert · Greg Gonzalez · Jack Kramer · Mike Tyson · Pancho Gonzales · Stan Smith
