Tennis star Pete Sampras to play celebrity match at Kennedy Funding Invitational

Real Estate Weekly,  July 11, 2007  

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In what may well be the year's most anticipated tennis event, former World No. 1 player Pete Sampras will play an exhibition match at The Kennedy Funding Invitational, July 11-15, 2007.

The tournament is an annual event, presented by Cole Shotz, Meisel, Forman and Leonard, PA, whose proceeds are donated to worthy organizations dedicated to the treatment and eradication of breast cancer.

Invitational Co-Directors James Miller, Mitch Klein, and Kevin Wolfer have put together one of the finest competitions in the U.S. for the tournament's second year. Players who will be competing in The Beer Family Men's Tournament include: returning 2006 Champion Paul Goldstein from Rockville, Maryland; Justin Gimelstob from Morristown, NJ, plus Robby Ginepri, Robert Kendrick, Amir Delic and many other players from around the world who are ranked in the ATP top 100. New for 2007 will be The Kaplen Family Women's Tournament, featuring eight of the top professional players in the world including Meghann Shaughnessy, Ashley Harkleroad and others.

The Kennedy Funding Invitational will receive a monumental boost from Sampras' appearance. During his 15-year career, he won a record 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles in 52 appearances, and finished the year as No. 1 on the ATP rankings for six consecutive years, a record for the open era and tying him for third all-time. Sampras won the singles title at Wimbledon seven times, an all-time record shared with William Renshaw. He also won five singles titles at the U.S. Open, an open era record shared with Jimmy Connors.

The setting for 2007 will once again be the prestigious Dellwood Country Club in New City, NY, with its 12 Har Tru tennis courts, 18-hole Tillinghast-designed golf course, sumptuous banquet facilities, and more. Players will be competing for over $250,000 in prize money during a week-long event inspired by the passing of a beloved friend and valued member of the community in 2006.

Leslie Simon lost her battle with breast cancer early in the year. According to family and friends, Leslie was a beautiful wife, mother, daughter, sister, and a dear friend to everyone who knew her. Thanks to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center's Breast Care Center, she was treated by one of the pre-eminent facilities in the country, and everything available was done to help her during her painful transition. Knowing that Englewood Hospital is on the forefront of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, Kennedy Funding conceived The Kennedy Funding Invitational both as a fitting tribute to Leslie, and to ensure that Englewood Hospital will receive the financial support necessary to continue fighting this insidious disease.

Also benefiting from The Kennedy Funding Invitational as of 2007 is Nyack Hospital in New York. The Union State Bank Cancer Center at Nyack Hospital was the 2005 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, given to only 9% of programs surveyed. The center's comprehensive breast cancer program features a one-stop experience for breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support, with access to both "high technology" clinical research proto cols and "high touch" supportive therapies. The Breast Care Program believes that caring for women right in their own community makes a tremendous difference in both their own and their family's health.

While admission to The Kennedy Funding Invitational is free to the public, admission to the Pete Sampras exhibition match requires tickets. All proceeds will go to Englewood Hospital and Nyack Hospital. The 2006 tournament resulted in over a $250,000 contribution to Englewood Hospital & Medical Center, and 2007's contribution is expected to approach $400,000.

For Pete Sampras exhibition tickets and/or more information about The Kennedy Funding Invitational call 1-800-342-8500, or visit www.thekennedyfundinginvitational.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Hagedorn Publication
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning