Event Chair Pam Cooper, Executive Director David Schumacher and President Anna Monhartova
Hosted by the Cooper family, the Waring family and the Fitz-Hugh family in their State Street homes, the 1100-1210 blocks of State Street served as the party venue for the A’s & Aces benefit. A’s & Aces aims to provide academic assistance, life skills and tennis programming to New Orleans public school children, utilizing a sport-based youth development model to support their success in academics and beyond. The event raised approximately $25,000 for the organization.
Linda Bjork, Pam Cooper, Jane Cross, Barbara Fitz-Hugh, Aly Goldberg, Anna Monhartova, David Schumacher, Kathleen Waring and Wendy Waters served as Event Chairs.
The honorees were: Nicholas Crockens, A’s & Aces Player of the Year; Elijah Lopez, A’s & Aces Most Improved Player of the Year; William Bostick, USTA Southern NJTL Essay Contest Winner; Jordan Mitchell, A’s & Aces Excellence Team Player; Eadan Waters, A’s & Aces Most Improved Player of the Year; and Teah Johnson, Southern Championship Louisiana Representative Player.
For decor, Pam Cooper and friends re-purposed tennis balls into adorable candle and foliage holders, Kathleen Waring decked out her house with neon green tulle and vintage tennis rackets and volunteers sported Mardi Gras beads with tennis balls on the end and tennis outfits that marked them as “servers.” All three homes were marked by tennis balloons. Many guests wore cocktail attire, chatting while enjoying food and drinks.
Pam Cooper, Kathleen Waring, and Barbara Fitz-Hugh arranged for and provided the catering at their respective homes. The first home had a signature cocktail called “The Ace” curated by Neil Bodenheimer of the bar Cure, and had passable, light appetizers. The second house had heavier appetizers. The final house was marked by champagne and cupcakes. All three homes offered wine and beer as well as an assortment of soft drinks and water.
The auction had a total of 95 lots ranging from experiences to art to food. Prizes of note include: Rod Laver memorabilia including a signed tennis ball, vintage racket and Laver Cup program, a Drew Brees-signed Wilson racket and New Orleans Saints football and hat, a plethora of art and a trip to stay at Longwood Tennis Club.
Event at a Glance
What: “A’s & Aces is ‘Going to STATE’!,” benefiting A’s & Aces
When: Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Where: 1100-1210 blocks of State Street