Jo-Wilfried Tsonga receives $10,000 grant from the ATP Aces for Charity – Tennis News
French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga received $10,000 grant for his charity foundation, Attrap La Balle, from the ATP Aces for Charity Grant during the 2011 Open de Moselle held at the Arènes de Metz in Metz, France, from 17 - 23 September
2011, in Metz.
Tsonga, who is the top seed at this on-going ATP World Tour 250 series event in Metz, received a cheque of $10,000 by the ATP supervisor Gerry Armstrong for his charity foundation Attrap La Balle, or Catch the ball.
“I am very happy to have received the ATP ACES for Charity grant and want to thank the ATP for choosing my association,” said the delighted Tsonga.
Attrap La Balle was founded by Tsonga and his few friends in 2009 which focuses on renovating facilities and building centres to train deserving athletes. The Frenchman, who came from a poor village in France and had no facilities
to train and develop his skills as a child, wants to provide facilities to the promising youngsters to help them reach the top of the tennis world and to live their dreams. The foundation had also built a sports centre in Pointe Noire for this special cause.
“Through Attrap La Balle, I really take to heart helping children in need in Congo, which is like my second country. I know this money will be wisely spent in helping kids to develop not only their sporting skills but also general
life skills,” the Frenchman added.
Ranked 10th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings, Tsonga is one of the twelve recipients who will receive grant from the ATP Aces for Charity Grant programme annually. ATP Aces for Charity Grant programme
aims at giving back to communities where the ATP World Tour events are played. It also supports the cause of the charitable initiatives the players have started.
Two other recipients received the grant earlier this month. David Massey, Vice President of ATP Europe, gave away $10,000 cheques to Tommy Robredo and BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy.
BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy with their charity partner, Heart of Children Association which helps children with heart diseases and cardiac related problems in Romania. The Tommy Robredo Foundation on the other hand helps training
and provides sports facilities for disable children. It also holds an international wheelchair tennis tournament.
Some other recipients includes Rafael Nadal’s Rafa Nadal Foundation, Aisam-ul-Haq’s Haq Foundation, the Bryan Brothers Foundation, the Japan Tennis Association’s earthquake relief fund and relief of victims of natural disasters
in Pakistan and Japan.
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