PRESS RELEASE | from 01.22.10
8th Annual Baton Rouge St. Jude Classic
2010 Valero Energy Baton Rouge St. Jude Classic
January 22, 2010
On the weekend of January 14-17, 2010, Southern Oaks Athletic Club hosted the 8th Annual 2010 Valero Energy Baton Rouge St. Jude Classic. This is the largest charity tennis event in Louisiana with 594 players participating and we raised $100,000 net donation for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Rain for two of the four days of the event could not dampen players' enthusiasm and support for St. Jude as this year's total donation was our second highest, and pushed total Aquinas League net giving over the $1,000,000 mark since starting events in 2003!
The event was a tennis fund-raiser tournament for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its mission in providing treatment for children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. In its eighth year, the event's net donation of over this time period now totals over $640,000 dollars for St. Jude since its inception in 2003. Anna was selected as this year's Tournament Princess. Johnny Little and Beau James Brock were the Tournament Co-Directors. Southern Oaks Athletic Club was the host facility for the event for the second time drawing rave reviews for its recent numerous facility upgrades and staffing. The Paula G. Manship YMCA Lamar Tennis Center was the Co-Host of the event providing access to their entire facility ensuring success.
The festivities started with a team auction and kick-off party on Thursday night at Southern Oaks Athletic Club. Anna was crowned Princess as this year's tournament royalty, and last year's Susan Virginia Greene Memorial M.V.P. Award was presented to Gary Lacoste. Sammy's on Highland Road provided scrumptious fiddles for the entire crowd by donating dinner for the evening.
On Friday night, dinner was donated by Carrabba's Italian Grill which included an entire dinner and cooked it onsite while their employees served the meal at Southern Oaks. Carrabba's served grilled chicken breast with Marsala Sauce, Cavatappi Amatriciana, and caesar salad.
Saturday lunch was donated by Pinoy, the first Filipino restaurant in Baton Rouge, located at Coursey and Sherwood Forest Boulevard. Pinoy served their famous pork adobe, buttered crunchy broccoli, mixed greens AND flan! Saturday dinner was donated by Jambalaya Shoppe on Government Street donated pork pastalaya, jambalaya, white beans, homemade banana pudding and their famous bread pudding. On Saturday evening, the band "Straight Sets" performed live after we all watched the Saints victory! The 2009 Veillon Ambassador Award was presented to Mamie Russo of Lafayette.
La Madeleine Bakery Cafe & Bistro woke up the Sunday breakfast crowd with 20 full tray assortments of croissants, cookies and fine desserts for all to indulge. On "Championship Sunday" afternoon, Outback Steakhouse - Jones Creek Road catered lunch and served its Outback Special steak, mushrooms, caesar salad, and bread. Also, on Sunday at lunch, Qdoba Mexican Grill donated lunch by delivering their famous "Catered Taco Bar" with grilled steak and all the fixins at an off-site facility for players who could not make it back to Southern Oaks due to play. Fiji Water, Krispy Kreme, Abita Beer, Coors Light, Coca-Cola, Academy Sports & Outdoors, and Red Bull also provided refreshments all weekend.
Valero Energy Corporation was again our Naming Sponsor. Outback Steakhouse - Jones Creek Road, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Cox Communications were Diamond level sponsors. Our Platinum Level Sponsor was Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. Our Gold level sponsors included Industrial Cooling Tower Services, Inc., Abita Beer, Crescent Crown - Coors Light, Crown Trophy, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Pinoy Filipino Restaurant, Jambalaya Shoppe on Government Street. Over 300 other sponsors also donated money, raffle items and talent to make this Baton Rouge event a successful one. A raffle, live auction, silent auction and special St. Jude merchandise sales over the weekend generated revenues from the players and guests. Anyone interested in volunteering for future Aquinas League events can go to www.aquinasleague.org.
This year's results include:
2010 Susan V. Greene Memorial MVP Award --- Michael Economides
Champions and Finalists
9.0 - Pat Ferry & Co. (Baton Rouge) defeated Vollenweider (New Orleans)
8.0 Gold - McGraw (Baton Rouge) defeated Lafayette Saints
8.0 Purple - Bill Morris (Baton Rouge) defeated Lafayette - Fontenot
7.0 Gold - The Ottballs (Baton Rouge) defeated 10s Addicts (Baton Rouge)
7.0 Purple - Who Dat (Baton Rouge) defeated Gilbert (Baton Rouge)
7.0 Green - Not My Fault (Baton Rouge) defeated Cashio Not Plastico
6.0 Gold - Tate It or Leave It (Baton Rouge) defeated Malone (Baton Rouge)
6.0 Purple - The Belle Tolls For Thee (Baton Rouge) defeated Johnstone Supply (Baton Rouge)
If you have any questions, please call me at (225) 252-6065, and I will gladly sit down and discuss details of this event provides. Our web page with detailed information about the event, its history, complete sponsor levels and results from the past eight years can be found at:
http://www.aquinasleague.org
Sincerely,
Beau James Brock
Co-Chairperson
2009 Baton Rouge St. Jude Classic
(225) 252-6065
