The USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the United States Tennis Association, has been selected as the official charity of the BNP Paribas Showdown inside New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden for the second consecutive year.
 
The Showdown at MSG will take place on Tuesday, March 10. This year’s event features 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, rising star Grigor Dimitrov and tennis legends and former US Open champions Monica Seles and Gabriela Sabatini.
 
For the USTA Foundation, the BNP Paribas Showdown and World Tennis Day serve are an opportunity to increase awareness and showcase its message of utilizing tennis and education to change lives. To that end, the Foundation's efforts will include video board signage, on-court presentations and public address announcements.

 

With the help and support of its newly appointed chairman, former world No. 4 James Blake, the USTA Foundation will extend its reach to the thousands of MSG fans and supporters in attendance as well as those watching on ESPN2.

 

“The USTA Foundation is proud and honored to once again be a part of this spectacular event,” said Dan Faber, Executive Director of the USTA Foundation. “The BNP Paribas Showdown is a great opportunity for us to further our mission of impacting the lives of children through tennis and education programs. The support of StarGames and MSG goes a long way in emphasizing the importance of our mission. This will truly be a remarkable night where we can come together and showcase to the incredible tennis fans of New York City the many elements that  tennis can bring to those in need.”
 
One of the major highlights of the evening will be the development of a piece of artwork, as celebrated painter Cortney Wall will be the guest artist for the event.
 
Wall has painted legendary athletes such as Hall of Fame New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle and Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan. The BNP Paribas Showdown will be her first time capturing tennis players on the court.

 

Wall’s creation will be completed by the end of the event. Fans will have an opportunity to bid via an auction for the original and unique work.
 
Sports marketing and entertainment company StarGames Inc., along with MSG, are donating an exclusive VIP opportunity for two to attend the 2015 BNP Paribas Showdown. The luxury package will be auctioned off for the first time in a worldwide auction and the proceeds will be donated to the USTA Foundation.
 
The package includes courtside, front row tickets, an opportunity to participate in a tennis clinic with one of the Showdown’s four players and an invitation to attend a pre-match hospitality party that is expected to attract Federer, Dimitrov, Seles and Sabatini. Also part of the package, the highest bidder will take home two tickets to the 2015 US Open.

 

"We are very excited about this opportunity and to have Cortney Wall’s skills on show," said Jerry Solomon, CEO of StarGames. "The BNP Paribas and World Tennis Day have become firmly entrenched in the tennis calendar and this year’s events promise to once again be tremendous fun and yet another superb platform for tennis. StarGames and MSG are once again proud to be connected with the USTA and USTA Foundation.”

The package is currently open for bidding via www.charitybuzz.com/WorldTennisDay, and the auction will close on Wednesday, Mar. 4. In addition, Wall’s painting also will be available via a unique worldwide live auction during the BNP Paribas Showdown the night of the event by clicking on the same URL: www.charitybuzz.com/WorldTennisDay.

 

For complete auction details, please check out: www.charitybuzz.com.
 
The USTA Foundation supports programs nationwide that leverage tennis, education and life skills to prepare under-resourced youth for college and beyond. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $19 million, benefitting thousands of children and adults through tennis, education, and health programs and college scholarships.