Close to 70 golfers teed up at the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Charity Golf Tournament last Tuesday, enjoying a beautiful morning of golf on the Windsor Golf Course while raising money to support the foundation’s varied children’s programs.
During the awards ceremony and luncheon, MFCF Chairman Tom Fish told participants, “Your money today is going to help a lot of kids in this community. We’re going to change some lives and give a lot of kids an opportunity that they wouldn’t have without your money. Since 2006 we have raised over $2 million, giving back to the kids in this community and helping them with fitness and health programs.”
The foundation got its start when childhood friends Jake Owen, famed Nashville recording artist, and Mardy Fish, former top-ranked tennis player, teamed up for the Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest.
“Giving back to the community that gave so much to me was my motivation for starting it,” shared Mardy Fish. “The community support has been amazing and I could not do it without their support. They are a major part of the success of the foundation.”
“Mardy and Jake are just regular kids from Vero Beach, but they followed their dreams, and it’s a great lesson for the kids in this community that if you dream big great things can happen,” said Tom Fish.
He noted that monies raised through the tournament will support the nonprofit’s after-school tennis programs: Kids on Court and Kids in Motion, Mardy’s Six Healthy Habits and scholarships for up-and-coming players. More than 2,000 children participate in the after-school tennis programs each year.
“We are taking over the Indian River Tennis Foundation’s scholarship programs,” shared Alison Mays, MFCF executive director, “for those kids that want to take tennis to the next level and go to college.”
They have also invited local clubs to adopt schools, and have a new transitional program for kids showing an aptitude and interest in competitive tennis.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and celebrity golfer Rick Rhoden lent his support on the course, having met Mardy and his father at a tournament in Lake Tahoe a few years ago.
“They invited me to play, and when good people ask you to do something for kids, you do what you can to make it happen, especially when it’s for a good cause like this one,” said Rhoden.
Before announcing the winners, board member Joe Pappalardo said, “The winners are going to be happy because the prizes are fantastic, but the real winners on the course today are our kids. We are happy that all of you are truly investors and shareholders in our foundation.”
Commenting that the obesity rate in Indian River County for low-income preschoolers is almost 15 percent, Pappalardo added, “Every day we try to tackle the complex safety health and fitness challenges faced by children in our community. Our mantra is that opportunity not circumstance should determine a child’s life.”
The 2017 Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships will be held April 21-30 at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club. For details, visit VeroBeachTennisTickets.com.
