NYJTL raised a total of $1,880,000 in combined Leadership Luncheon and Cary Leeds Center contributions making October 29, 2014 the single biggest fundraising day in the organization’s more than 40-year history.
The room erupted in applause and gave a standing ovation at the 29th annual NYJTL Leadership Awards Luncheon when Larry and Dalia Leeds texted a pledge for $1 million to the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning capital campaign, bringing the family’s total contribution to $3 million of the total $26.5 million needed to complete the project.
“Larry and Dalia told us they wanted to make the first pledge at our fundraising luncheon,” said NYJTL President & CEO Dr. Deborah Antoine. “What followed was truly an amazing outpouring of generosity from so many of our supporters in the room, raising an additional $330,000 towards our goal, which we will reach by year end.”
The 2014 Leadership Luncheon featured a Text-to-Pledge® fundraising appeal by 2013 Luncheon honoree and Tennis Channel Chairman & CEO Ken Solomon, who flew in from Los Angeles to lead the effort. “The goal of the fundraising appeal was to achieve a high rate of participation by the attendees, who, by their presence, we knew to be NYJTL supporters,” explained Solomon. “We were blown away by both the number of gifts scrolling across the screen and the level of giving.”
Among the nearly 80 pledges received, which started at $25, were an anonymous $1,000 donation from one of Cary Leeds’s former tennis coaches, $15,000 from Women’s Sports Foundation CEO and NYJTL Board Member Deborah Larkin, and two $100,000 commitments made by Eric Hadar, a former Luncheon honoree, and John Arnhold, whose gift was made in honor of NYJTL Founder & Chair Emeritus Skip Hartman. Long-time NYJTL employee Steve Schott pledged $20,000.
NYJTL Board Member Bruce Manson made a $10,000 pledge, joined by $5,000 pledges from fellow Board Members Polly Scott and Fay Ann Lee, whose pledge was made in honor of the former Mayor of New York City David Dinkins. Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer also made a $5,000 pledge.
“We are so deeply grateful for the incremental support of our Board Members, each of whom have made prior gifts to the Cary Leeds campaign,” said Antoine.
When it came time for the honorees Todd Martin, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, and Doug Conant, Chairman of Avon Products, to speak, the ballroom at the Grand Hyatt was buzzing with excitement as introductions were made by Maurice DuBois and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, respectively.
Martin and Conant both recognized the accomplishments of NYJTL participants Alyssa Gordon, who received the NYJTL Achievement Award, and Lonnie McKinstry, who was given the Irwin Askenase Sportsmanship Award.
Both Martin, who was ranked as high as No. 4 in the world, and Conant, who did not make his high school tennis team as a freshman but went on to play four years at Northwestern University, credited tennis as teaching them valuable life lessons. Conant told the story of not making his tennis team as an opportunity for him, as well as a useful lesson.
Board Chair Martin Goldberg closed the program by thanking NYJTL staff and supporters for their longstanding commitment.
Attendees were given the gift of membership to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, signed copies of Mr. Conant’s New York Times Bestseller TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments, and a DVD produced by Tennis Channel on the life of Arthur Ashe.
The event would not have been such a success were it not for the dedication of the event Co-Chairs, Lawrence B. Benenson, Peter L. Malkin and Polly Scott, and Honorary Co-Chairs Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Mayor David Dinkins, USTA President David Haggerty, and Ken Solomon.
Since its inception, the NYJTL Luncheon has been underwritten by the Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation. Thus, all proceeds go directly to fund NYJTL operating expenses.
“My parents instilled in me a love of tennis and philanthropy,” said Lawrence Benenson. “Our family is pleased to be able to continue this tradition for NYJTL.”