CELEBRITY TENNIS TOURNAMENT “NETS” NEARLY $100,000 TO HELP OC’S FOSTER CHILDREN FIND LOVING FAMILIES

Thousands of spectators and over 650 players participated in one of the country’s largest charity tennis tournaments and raised a record $94,110 to help Southern Orange County’s foster children find adoptive families, provide counseling for unwed teen mothers and create foster care for newborns in need.

The 45th annual Roy Emerson Adoption Guild Tennis Classic “hit the courts” at some of the most prestigious tennis facilities across the Southland, including the Newport Beach Tennis Club, Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club, Palisades Tennis Club and the Racquet Club of Irvine from May 27 through June 4, 2006.

Scores of corporate sponsors, such as Fletcher Jones Motor Cars of Newport Beach, stepped up in support of this worthy event entitled “For the Love of a Child” with $33,000 in cash contributions and the donation of valuable merchandise (William Harold Jewelers of Newport Beach provided a stunning 3/4-carat diamond as a raffle prize). Coveted sports memorabilia topped the list of silent auction items, including an autographed racquet from tennis legends Rod Laver and Roy Emerson. The latter, who serves as the namesake of this increasingly successful fundraiser, is the most prolific Grand Slam title holder in the history of the game.

“Through the generosity of corporate sponsors and individual donors, we have been able to help over 6,000 foster children find permanent, loving homes,” says Christine Shively, president of The Adoption Guild. “I am personally extremely proud to have been given the opportunity to participate in continuing this remarkable legacy in impacting the lives of so many young people in our region.”


The Adoption Guild of Southern Orange County is a non-denominational, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization comprised of a group of volunteers who are committed to giving every child the opportunity to have a loving family of their own. One hundred (100%) of all proceeds raised benefit Holy Family Services Adoption and Foster Care Agency, Southern California’s oldest adoption and foster care agency. Holy Family Services provides services to birth parents and prospective adoptive parents and those who wish to become temporary, short-term foster parents.