Sunday, at the Cherokee Center in Harrah, stars stars Servin ‘up love was an ace.
The celebrity tennis Benefit, featuring the stars of ancient and current tennis Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, noted More than a million dollars For Tropical Storm Helene Relief, 100% of the benefits going to charitable organizations and organizations from western North Carolina.
“I could not be more proud to bring aid to (Asheville),” said Agassi at the start of the event. “It is certainly a fragile thing when something tragic happens, but it makes, in many cases, otherwise most cases, the best of people.”
Other celebrities, such as Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, “The Daily Show” Host Michael Kosta, Esai Morales de “Mission: Impossible” and Jeff Probst, the host of “Survivor”, joined forces with professionals for eight games of tennis, each go to seven points under the rules of equality.
More than 3,500 tickets were sold and the event was televised on the tennis channel. The money raised will go to the Always Asheville fund, at the Asheville Tennis Association, at the Asheville Habitat region for humanity and Centraide Asheville.
One of the Sunday matches included Lauren McAdam and Matt Ballance, two members of the Asheville fire service who beat the Asheville police service in a double match to win the chance to play doubles with Pegula and Roddick.
McAdam and Ballance said they had been preparing to play for about two days after being volunteer by email.
“The last 48 hours, I have been a big great tennis player,” said McAdam.
Ballance said it was more nervous about the idea of ​​facing the APD and winning rights to play up to professionals.
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Ballance and Navarro beat McAdam and Roddick 7-6 after Ballance struck a winner in front of McAdam.
Before the start of the event, two chances of the referee of the matches were sold at auction to the members of the crowd for $ 3,000 each. Subsequently, articles such as a signed Roddick tennis racket, an event poster signed by guests and a “survivor” card game signed by Probst were auction.
More items will be sold at auction on the stars served the love website until February 6.
More than four months since Helene ravaged the west of North Carolina, Stars Servin ‘Up Love recalled that although Asheville has traveled a long way in its recovery, there is still a long way to go.
“Although things are certainly much better, we have years of recovery before us,” said Ballance. “Everything that like this event, which can keep it at the forefront of people’s minds and hearts, and keep attention to the city of Asheville, so much the better.”
Evan Gerike is the sports journalist at Asheville Citizen Times. Send him an email to [email protected] or follow it on X, formerly Twitter, @Evangerike.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Stars Servin ‘Up Love collects more than a million dollars for Asheville, WNC
