September 08, 2012 - Tennis With the Stars
What: A charity tennis tournament and awards dinner to benefit Wish of a Lifetime, CYTF, and the YESS Institute.
Where: Columbine Country Club
When: Saturday, September 8, 2012
Time: 1:30 - 5:30, drills and games; 5:30 - 6:30 Pro Doubles; 6:30 - 8:30 Mexican buffet and program
Beneficiary: Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime, CYTF, & The YESS Institute
Gala Chairperson(s): Andy Zodin
Speaker: Jeremy Bloom
Catering: Columbine Country Club
Sponsors: Blacktie Colorado, MileHigh Sports Radio AM 1510, W.G. Nielsen & Co., Powerade Zero, Orchid Liqueurs
Menu: Mexican buffet dinner
Blacktie Photos by: Janet Snell-Bergeon
Brian Battistone serves while Philip Farmer waits for the return
The Columbine Country Club hosted the Tennis with the Stars and Wish of a Lifetime Charity Tennis Tournament on Saturday, September 8, 2012. The day began with Clinic with the Pros from 1:30 - 4:30 pm, followed by a Pro Match Exhibition from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, and an awards dinner from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
The Pro Doubles Exhibition featured the pairings of Kellen Damico and Nate Schnugg vs. Brian Battistone and Philip Farmer. The crowd enjoyed watching a great exhibition of tennis by this group of exceptional players, with plenty of laughs and good-natured fun. Event chair Andy Zodin presided over the match, and then invited guests to enjoy a flavorful Mexican buffet in the Columbine Country Club dining room.
Following dinner, Andy Zodin introduced Jeremy Bloom, two-time Olympian and former NFL football player, who shared his passion for making wishes come true for senior citizens through his Wish of a Lifetime foundation. The mission of Wish of a Lifetime is to inspire senior citizens and shift the way our society views aging, and guests enjoyed a video showing several recipients of wishes and how the foundation has made a difference in their lives.
Andy Zodin then announced the awards from the tennis tournament, and the winners came up to have Jeremy Bloom present their medals. Finally, David and Sonia Franzel memorialized their daughter, Sascha, who passed away from natural causes at the age of 19. In order to honor her memory and continue her good works, they presented the inaugural Sascha Franzel Star of Stars Award to Breezy Coyne, a junior at Columbine High School and an employee at the Columbine Country Club in the tennis program.