Media

Publicity for this event was handled by The Patton Group; please contact Julie Fogel at julie@thepattongroupinc.com or 305-834-0081.

For inquiries about Exploring the Arts and Tony Bennett, please contact Sylvia Weiner at sweiner@rpm-productions.com or 908- 301-1779.

POST-EVENT PRESS RELEASE

TONY BENNETT TENNIS TOURNAMENT AND BENEFIT GALA RAISES OVER NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR SEVERAL CHARITIES

PARTICIPANTS IN THE DAY'S EVENTS INCLUDED TONY BENNETT, ALEJANDRO SANZ, THE BRYAN BROTHERS, NOVAK DJOKOVIC, KIM CLIJSTERS, ANA IVANOVIC CAROLINE WOZNIACKI, MARDY FISH AND RYAN HARRISON

(MIAMI, FL - March 19, 2012) - Legendary performer and 17 time Grammy winner Tony Bennett hosted two charity events in Miami today that raised nearly half a million dollars for several charities dedicated to arts education and the sport of tennis.  The Tony Bennett All Star Tennis Tournament was held at the The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami this afternoon and featured amateur players and the top tennis players of the world including Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters, Bob and Mike Bryan, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Mardy Fish and Ryan Harrison.  Tony Bennett greeted the players at an exhibition match that ended the tournament with over 300 spectators in attendance.  Latin superstar Alejandro Sanz also joined in the tennis action at the matches, which was hosted by Cliff Drysdale.  Exploring the Arts, the non –profit organization founded by Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Benedetto to support arts education in public schools, Team Bryan, a program founded by the Marty Hennessey Junior Tennis Foundation with the support of Bob and Mike Bryan and the Greater Miami Tennis and Education Foundation were the charities to benefit from the tennis tournament.

Event Contact

Julie Fogel / The Patton Group / Julie@ThePattonGroupInc.com /             305-534-0081      

Tony Bennett & Exploring the Arts Contact

Sylvia Weiner / RPM Productions / sweiner@rpm-productions.com /             908-301-1779      

ABOUT THE CHARITIES

Exploring the Arts

Founded in 1999 by legendary American singer and painter, Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto, Exploring the Arts’ (ETA) mission is to strengthen the role of the arts in public high school education. ETA programs connect private funders, individual artists, and cultural institutions to their Partner Schools to achieve greater equality of resources and opportunity for youth of all means and backgrounds. For further information please visit www.exploringthearts.org.

Team Bryan

Founded in 2006 by Ryan Wolfington with the support of Sean and Ana Wolfington to take at risk children off the streets, and onto the tennis court and into the classroom.  Children being the program at all ages and go through a “road to success” mentoring program that helps them to fulfill their greatest potential in tennis, school and life by teaching them skills for overcoming adversity and achieving their goals.  With the help of Bob and Mike Bryan, the #1 doubles team in the world, nearly 40 players have earned scholarships to college for both academics and to play Division 1 NCAA tennis.

The Greater Miami Tennis & Education Foundation

Since 1974, over 33,000 youngsters have had the opportunity to learn tennis and valuable life skills by participating in both  free and affordable GMTEF programs.  Our mission is to develop, organize and conduct education, tennis awareness and skills development programs for youth from economically and socially challenged communities in Miami-Dade County.  GMTEF is committed to helping participants become well-rounded individuals by focusing on character development, self-esteem and academic achievement.  For further information please visitwww.gmtef.org.