TENNIS GREAT JOHN
MCENROE TO HOST NYC COMEDY NIGHT
TO RAISE FUNDS AND
AWARENESS FOR TENNIS PROJECT
Carolines on Broadway
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Those who know him attest to his killer wit and
sophisticated sense of humor, the verbal equivalent of
his world-famous volleying skill on the tennis court. On
April 25th, sports superstar John McEnroe
lends his comedic aptitude and appreciation to curating
an evening featuring some of the city’s funniest New
Yorkers at Carolines on Broadway. The first-ever Stand
Up for a Cause event will benefit his transformative
tennis, the Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP).
“This event is a long-held dream of mine, a phenomenally
fun way to raise funds and awareness for the
groundbreaking work we do at the Johnny Mac Tennis
Project,” said John McEnroe. “I’ve been lucky to have a
skill that enables me to act like a kid well beyond my
childhood. The majority of my adult life has been spent
making sure that deserving kids get a real shot at
successful adulthood. With Stand
Up for a Cause at
Carolines, I’m inviting the public to join me in this
important endeavor.”
Founded in 2012,
JMTP has
transformed the lives of thousands of children from
under-resourced communities at the Sportime Randall’s
Island facility. This groundbreaking initiative, which
has disbursed over $2M in tennis scholarships, provides
athletic and life success training to some of the New
York City’s most at-risk kids. Inspired by John
McEnroe’s vision, JMTP serves as a model for effective
programming well beyond the realm of sports.
“On and off the tennis court, my brother John is able to
appreciate life’s absurdities, both large and small,"
said Patrick McEnroe, new Johnny Mac Board Member. "From
the time we were kids, he’s always understood the power
of laughter to transcend life’s tough times. At the
Johnny Mac Stand up for a Cause comedy evening, the cost
of admission will buy patrons an evening of solid gold
entertainment and thousands of children a better future.
I hope you will join me, John and our friends at this
unforgettable event.”
Tickets to Stand
Up for a Cause range from $1,000 per person for VIP
seating and hospitality to $200 for ROH seating in this
intimate venue. Table group sponsorships are also
available. Invited guests include friends of the McEnroe
brothers (JMTP founder, John, new Board member Patrick
and president Mark), other board members and their
guests, members of Sportime’s clubs in Manhattan and in
the Hamptons, and other generous tennis and comedy
fans. Donors at the $750 level and above are invited to
a VIP cocktail reception at 7:00pm.
One week prior to the event, JMTP will host an online
silent auction, which continues at Carolines and will
include approximately 20 items, across a broad spectrum
of price points. There
will also be a brief live auction that night of very
special tennis, vacation and other experiences. Auction
winners will be announced that night, as well as on our
website and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram).
The Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP) changes young lives
by removing the economic and social barriers to success
through tennis. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, JMTP introduces
tennis to thousands of New York City kids from
under-resourced areas, particularly those living in East
Harlem and the South Bronx, two communities immediately
adjacent to our base at Sportime Randall’s Island. JMTP
kids are first introduced to tennis as a life-long
health, fitness and social activity. For our most
dedicated young athletes, ages six to 18 years old, JMTP
funds scholarships to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA)
which provides a pathway to success through competitive
tennis, leading to college scholarships, careers in the
industry, and, for a few, professional tennis careers
and, perhaps, Grand Slam titles.