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News Releases Contact: Ben Pennymon, (904) 301-3786ben@malwashington.com Celebrity Gala Raises $150,000 for MWKF ProgramsMercedes-Benz/MaliVai Washington Golf & Tennis Gala Tops Previous Year’s Total
Jacksonville, Fla. – (Sept. 15, 2006) – The 10th anniversary Mercedes-Benz/MaliVai Washington Golf and Tennis Gala raised nearly $150,000 to benefit the programs and youth of the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation (MWKF). The two-day event consisted of a Tennis Pro-Am on Monday, September 11th at Deerwood Country Club and a Golf Pro-Am the following morning at Marsh Landing Country Club. At the Gala Dinner, which took place the evening of September 11th at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort, about 450 supporters were in attendance to help celebrate the Foundation’s 10th anniversary. That evening, Syreeta Smith was named MWKF’s 10th Player of the Year and received a $1000 scholarship. Additionally, several MWKF program participants were named Extra Effort Award winners including: Taliyah Atkinson, Keanna Bell, Antonio Brewton, Markevius Collier, Shadarian Davis, Tyrone Davis, Valdez Jackson, Victoria James, Benzell Lang, Devon Price, Raven Smith and Jazzauria Williams. Each Extra Effort winner receives a $500 scholarship. Also, by partnering with other organizations, MWKF was able to provide additional scholarships to: Marc Atkinson, Take Stock In Children and Debi Andreanssen Memorial Scholarship; Taliyah Atkinson, Take Stock In Children; Keanna Bell, Take Stock In Children and Debi Andreanssen Memorial Scholarship ; Barresha Bell, Take Stock In Children; Antonio Brewton, Take Stock In Children; Markevius Collier, Take Stock In Children and Debi Andreanssen Memorial Scholarship; Rijana Hadziavdic, Mercedes-Benz Drive Your Future Scholarship; Victoria James, Take Stock In Children; Syreeta Smith, Take Stock In Children and Debi Andreanssen Memorial Scholarship; and Jazzauria Williams, Take Stock In Children. Celebrities that joined host MaliVai Washington in the festivities included PGA Tour Player Fred Funk; former tennis professionals Ivan Lendl, Todd Martin and Brian Gottfried; former Jaguars Tony Brackens, Kevin Hardy and Tony Boselli; and others. All proceeds benefit the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation, which was established by ’96 Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington to introduce tennis as a tool to develop positive life skills and encourage academic achievement in youth who otherwise might not be exposed to the sport. MWKF runs a comprehensive five-day-a-week after school program in Jacksonville’s Durkeeville area and has introduced tennis into the lives of more than 14,000 local children. ### |
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