March 2024 Newsletter
SAVE THE DATE!
Friday, May 10, Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria, 2222 W. Loop S.
(Details to come)
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May 2023 Newsletter
The eleventh Game Set Match Gala & Tennis Fashion Show made for a fun night—all for a good cause! More than 300 attendees enjoyed the festivities that included a cocktail reception, silent auction, fashion show, NJTL student awards, dinner, live auction and an interview with top 20 ATP pro Tommy Paul. HTA and Tennis Express were presenting sponsors, Claire & Dr. John Goosey Honorary Chairs, Rachel McNeill returned to Houston to emcee, and Lara Lehmann served as Gala Chair for the tenth year. Thanks to our generous sponsors, fabulous guests and amazing volunteers we are pleased to report the event raised more than $100,000 to support HTA NJTL. To capture a glimpse of the celebration, here is a video recap and a few photos. Photos by Daniel Ortiz
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May 2022 Newsletter
The return of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships to River Oaks Country Club this year provided a unique opportunity for the 2022 Game Set Match & Tennis Fashion Show, which was not held in 2021 because of the pandemic.
Gala Chair Lara Lehmann and the gala committee capitalized on the presence of a player who had participated in the very program that the Gala benefited.
What better way to showcase the event’s tenth anniversary.
Tennis Pro Frances Tiafoe, one of the top 30 men’s players in the world, learned to play tennis in a public program similar to the HTA NJTL, which is serving more than 7,000 youngsters a year at Houston schools and public parks in collaboration with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
On April 2, the first Saturday of the tournament, Tiafoe left the practice courts at the River Oaks Country Club, where he was seeded No. 6 in the Championships, to share some of his journey on the courts with the gala audience. Tennis pro and coach Michael Russell moderated a Q&A conversation with him on stage.
The 24-year-old is the son of immigrants of Sierra Leone and grew up playing tennis at College Park in Maryland, where his father was a janitor. He and his twin brother Franklin participated in a free program there.
In response to Russell’s question about the person who influenced him the most, he quickly replied that “it definitely was his father, who worked so hard, so many hours.” And added, “his brother Franklin, who is always there, encouraging me.”
Russell noted that Tiafoe has become somewhat of a role model for young players, and Tiafoe acknowledged that while he may be serious on the tennis court, “I’m easy going and a regular person off the court. I love to see younger kids make tennis fun.”
KPRC Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley was Master of Ceremonies, and the fashion show with junior participants was orchestrated by Tennis Express. Music during cocktails and the silent auction was provided by Moodafaruka. A live auction was conducted by Adren Pilger. The evening also featured a silent auction.
Honorary Chairs were Rosario and Paul Boling, T.C. and Margaret Chang and Bev Taylor.