Friday night’s Andy Roddick Foundation (ARF) gala raised more than $1 million.
The seventh annual charity gala featured nine-time Grammy Award winning musician and philanthropist John Legend, and was held at the W Hotel Austin and ACL Live Moody Theater in Austin, Texas.
Andy Roddick will use event proceeds to help fund youth programs at a new 10,000 square-foot, eight-court tennis and learning facility in Austin, and other youth programs run by its partner organizations. Joined by Matthew McConaughey, Roddick and wife Brooklyn Decker, and Legend’s fiancee, Chrissy Teigen, over 1,000 attendees were treated to live pre-concert music, dinner, live and silent auctions, and a concert performance by Legend. McConaughey and wife Camila Alves won an $18,000 bid on a VIP all-access package for the Austin radio program The Bobby Bones Show.
Newly retired Roddick is now focusing his efforts on ARF programs, and is thrilled that the event was a success. “The foundation is growing, and this event gives us strong momentum going into 2013.” Roddick has always made giving back a part of his career. In 2000, he established ARF to make a difference in the lives of youth in underserved communities, and in 2004 was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for his charity efforts.
During the gala, Roddick introduced ARF’s new informational video, highlighting local and regional statistics on youth poverty, obesity, drop-out rates, and substance abuse. Jeff Lau, ARF’s new CEO stated, “The statistics we’ve uncovered in our research demonstrate a great need for our continued and focused efforts to impact the lives of youths. We want to spread opportunity and nurture each individual’s talent.” The video can be viewed at www.arfoundation.org.
All proceeds raised from the gala go to support the Andy Roddick Foundation and its partners. Sponsors of the event included SAP and GREY GOOSE Vodka.
Source: PR Newswire
