T3 – Page 2 – Boots On The Court

Joint Base Andrews – September 26, 2015

Posted on October 12, 2015March 7, 2021 by Trevor Chan

Thanking Our Troops Through Tennis: Joint Base Andrews

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Friday night found the T3 crew out at Annapolis High School to help raise money for their Tennisthon. The evening started at 6:30 with a doubles exhibition between Dickie and Claudia vs. Freddy and Seth McNair. Both Seth and Claudia attend the Naval Academy. I hope the event raised lots of $$! The doubles was fun to watch.

Can you imagine what it’s like to bump into someone you taught as a Pee Wee Tennis participant when she was 8, seventeen years later? When I saw Amy Allin I was blown away. She is now clerking for a DC judge and waiting for her bar scores. She wants to become a prosecutor. Really, littlest Amy Chica? It seems like yesterday that you were playing Sharks and Minnows on my court at T Bar M! It was so much fun to have dinner with you as a grown up and to catch up with you. Stay in touch and let’s not let another 17 years go by! xoxoxo

Saturday morning arrived overcast with chilly winds. Two years ago, the event at JBA was earmarked with humidity and temperatures in the 90’s. This year I was lamenting the fact that I didn’t have any sweats!

Despite the cool weather, the event was another big success. It was held on the two courts in the residential community on base and was located in the middle of a beautiful little park. Charles Stevenson is THE Go To Guy. He is the Deputy Director of Fitness and Sports at the Tactical Fitness Center. He is an efficient, hard working and funny guy. Once again, Charles and his crew, Kim, Kendra, Scott and Jacob set us up and broke us down in record time. This year, not only was he instrumental in making sure the event ran seamlessly, but he was a HUGE help with The Beast. The F150 had a flat tire and tire pressure issues. Thank goodness for Charles. I told him that he can NEVER leave JBA, and if he does, I will find him.

Thank you Charles, you are the BEST. xoxox ***Shout out to Sabine Lopez and Kim, you chicas were amazing as well.

The first group of volunteers were the coolest chicas ever: thank you Madison Cote, Kelsi Freitas, Tami Parlette, Tammy Parlette and Kendra Munafo. I’ll also include John O’Rourke and Brandon Sublett to that group of great volunteers, they will be Honorary Chicas.

This event set a new T3 record for the youngest participant ever: Little Isaac was only 16 months old and was swinging a racquet AND connecting with a low pressure ball. When he turns pro one day, I will be able to say that I gave him his first lesson.

I’m always touched by the parents who look as if they want to play, yet say they’ve never played or haven’t played in forever….I annoyingly convince them to go home, get their sneakers and get out on the courts. Who cares if you’re rusty or if you’re a beginner! That’s what T3 is all about- getting you out there for the first time or bringing you back. Thank you to all you brave souls who come back and play. It’s so much fun to see.

I can never get enough of the youngest participants. They are genuinely enthusiastic and have such a good time. I’m not sure that they even realize how much they’re learning and that’s a tribute to the incredible pros who so generously volunteer their time. Thanks so much to: Mark Wirth, John Officer, Damon Austin, Ebonye Jones, Warren Waterman, Kaitlyn Hyun, Tyler Hyun.

Thank you Mark Wirth for flying all over the US and still finding time to help us. We enjoyed meeting your brother Craig, a Marine stationed at the Pentagon, your dad (Yonkers peeps rule!) and your sweet and funny mom. While we missed the North Carolina Mafia, we loved your family.

I am so relieved whenever Steve Contardi is able to come to an event. He makes everything run so smoothly. Not only are you a great organizer, but your on court skills are the best too, Coach Steve! Thank you Steve and Mark Belcik for making the trip. We are so appreciative of the effort that you always make and the long drives that bring you to us. (We missed you Mario and the rest of the Contardi Crew!)

Karen Souza and Brittany Brechtlein showed up to help with registration with their 9 week old babies slung in pouches. They are without a doubt some of the most efficient moms I have ever seen. They were multi-tasking gurus and their babies were so well-behaved. A big thank you goes out to their husbands Corey Riley and CJ Brechtlein as well. They were an enormous help at Registration too!

Helen Hyun brought her daughter Kaitlyn last year, after Kaitlyn collected racquets for the Andrews Air Force base recreation center. Kaitlyn spent an entire year getting racquets donated and helped throughout the day. This year, Kaitlyn and her brother Tyler helped with the little tennis players, while their mom Helen manned the registration table. What an incredible family. Both Kaitlyn and Tyler are talented tennis players as well. Kaitlyn’s Oakton High School tennis team captured the State title last spring, going undefeated and won the prestigious Wells Fargo Cup with the best overall record on the VHSL state level. Congratulations to Kaitlyn and her teammates! Tyler is 13 years old, ranked number 20 in the Mid-Atlantic USTA 14 and Under Division. Thank you Hyun family- you make going to Andrews feel like homecoming for us! Good luck in all that you do!

They say that when a door closes, a window opens. How true. We were sad that the Waters family would not be at JBA this year, but we were thrilled to meet the Hoaglands. Colonel Hoagland is the Wing Commander at JBA. He and his wife Jill, already feel like T3 family. Thank you for signing up your daughter Carolynn and for letting us play tennis with your son Joseph. Colonel Hoagland is a good tennis player and is very interested in helping grow tennis on base. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon and an equally enjoyable dinner at the Golf Club. We look forward to another possible visit in April, as well as working with you to bring a tennis program to JBA.

Last year I held baby Skye Lynn Chan, and thankfully Trevor brought her back this year. I was able to have dinner with her AND she shared her chicken and fries with me. I’m not sure what I enjoyed more, the event or hanging with Skye! Thank you Trevor Chan for all you do. Your photography is incredible and your daughter is adorable.

We were fortunate enough to once again have the Hauge family, Meg and her son David, along with David Paulina to teach the game of chess to the participants. How cool is it to see a whole new generation embrace the game of chess? T3 is so happy to partner with your foundation at JBA every year. We are so sorry that David H’s foot was not one hundred percent and we hope he’s out of the cast and off the crutches very soon. Tennis and lunch the following day was a relaxing way to start our long haul back to SoFlo. Thank you Hauge family! (We missed you John!)

No blog would be complete without profusely thanking the USO. Thank you to the three lovely ladies who drove the enormous USO truck, served lunch, took pictures and made sure we were all happy. Renda, Regina and Marilyn, it was a pleasure! The USO has been partners with T3 from the very beginning and we are so grateful.

We were also very excited to have Lynn Gertzog from the Mid-Atlantic USTA spend some time with us. There are so many people who, after being introduced to the game of tennis, ask us how they can continue to play. With help from organizations like the USTA, these eager future players will have an easy path to connect with local programs and pros. Thanks for you time, Lynn. We look forward to growing the tennis program at JBA with your help.

We are now getting ready for our second to the last event at Joint Base Randolph in San Antonio, Texas in mid October. Thank you for reading this blog, for liking the pictures and supporting T3. We are grateful, touched and honored by the love and support that you have all given us. Without your help, T3 wouldn’t exist.

See you at Randolph!

Fort Bragg – June 6, 2015

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Trevor Chan

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Picking a favorite event is sort of like picking a favorite child, you can’t and you shouldn’t…BUT, Fort Bragg was our very first Thanking Our Troops through Tennis event in 2013. Saturday marked our THIRD event there! While I would never say Ft. Bragg is our favorite, because they’re all incredible, it does hold a special place in our hearts.

Our first event back in 2013 was especially memorable because of the torrential downpours that forced us indoors to the Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness Center. The second event in 2014 was memorable because of the record high temperatures accompanied by unreal humidity. Our most recent and third event will stand out in my mind because it felt like coming home. There were so many familiar faces and return appearances! Jackie Thomas is our Go-To contact at Ft. Bragg and I swear she is my sister separated at birth. Jackie is one of the most positive and tireless people I know. Thank you Chica, as long as you and Ft. Bragg will have us, we will return.

Mario Wozniak, how incredible are you? You stayed a few extra days and camped out on a friend’s couch just so you could help us with the event. Your family had already transferred to Columbus, Georgia and you stayed. Wow! And now thanks to you, we have a contact at Ft. Benning. The T3 family is quickly spreading out all over the United States thanks to the efforts of people like Mario. xox

When Dickie first got the idea for T3, he ran it past my brother, Colonel Frank de Carvalho. Over Christmas dinner in 2012, the two hashed out a plan, and Frank got working on it when he returned to Ft. Bragg in the new year. Because of his efforts, T3 was able to launch our first test event at Ft. Bragg and the rest is history. Thank you Frank. He and his girls Alexis and Noe spent the day on the courts… we even got Col. Frank to hit a few balls with Dick! Dinner at Camp de Carvalho was delicious and fun as always. Thanks Wendy.

T3 is a family event, and we are so lucky that my parents, Jaime and Dawn are able to accompany us almost everywhere we go. Jaime is one of the most popular pros on the court, and Dawn is never far behind, making sure all the kids know the proper mechanics of the serve. Thanks Meems and Poppy. xoxo

HotChoklit or Mark Wirth and his crew always make the events so much fun. We cannot thank you all enough for making the drive, bringing the delicious snacks (Mark) and for your tireless hours on the court.

Thank you Michelle Benson for keeping everything running smoothly and for making sure we all knew what to do, where to go and when. I sincerely hope that wreath made it to your front door and that it fit!

We cannot thank the pros enough. Once again we were honored to have the great and amazing JoAnne Russell. Every one of the teaching pros brings to the table so many wonderful qualities. I learn new things each time I step on the court to force water on someone, or to take a picture. Thank you all!

A special shout out goes to Ellen Stone. Thank you so much for making the trip out to Bragg and for all that you do for us. You are special in so many ways.

So here is the official thank you list:

James Arceneaux, Francie Barrigan, Randy Bridgman, Jeff Cato, Dawn de Carvalho, Jaime de Carvalho, Mike Farley, Brian Paley, JoAnne Russell, Mark Wirth.

Thank you to the support staff as well: Cristin Perry (USO- our wonderful partner from Day One) and Lindsey Fischetti (WFC Director).

Thank you to the USO of North Carolina and the Ft. Bragg Club for providing lunch.

If I’ve accidentally left anyone off, please forgive me. I promise you it was not my intention and I will add your name. Just send me a message via the website.

Cheers until our next event!

See the rest of the pictures below!

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MacDill AFB – April 18, 2015

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Trevor Chan

Some military bases are lucky to have an ideal location. MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida is one such base. It is located on the Tampa Bay and couldn’t have better views. Thanking Our Troops through Tennis was honored to hold our second event of 2015 at MacDill this Saturday.

MacDill has two beautiful courts that sit nestled between glorious oak trees at the edge of the water. The courts’ proximity to the water provided a cooling breeze throughout the day, as well as gorgeous views. Bayshore Boulevard wraps around the base, hugging the water on one side and beautiful homes on the other. The homes are built up on lattice enclosed areas and I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in one of those homes over-looking the bay.

I am always blown away by the kindness and generosity shown to us by the volunteers at our events. I will start my shout-outs by thanking the USO first, our partner from the inception of T3.

Over a 5 hour period we had 104 kids, juniors and adults participate in the event. Once again, the USO outdid themselves by providing lunch from Tijuana Flats. A special thank you goes out to Kris Kimberly, who had to juggle and improvise at the last minute to make sure that we even had lunch…another special shout-out goes to Manager Johnny at the Platt Street Tijuana Flats for helping Kris save the day.

I enjoyed working with all the USO volunteers; Carmen and Anthony Fiorito, their adorable grandson, Niklas Andreasen, Alexandra Otero Mahjouri, and Amparo.

Thank you Sandra Abelia for EVERYTHING you did leading up to the event, during the event and then afterwards. Without a doubt, you were instrumental in its success and if not for your belief in us, we would have never pulled this off. Thank you.

Thank you to Sergeant Samantha Farrell as well. She was one of the busiest staffers there and her help was invaluable.

Base volunteers Gerald Brown, Taylor Deany and Bob Talle were on board all day to help with anything and everything, plus they stuck around for take- down, making it go that much faster.

It was a pleasure and honor to meet Colonel Danile H. Tulley, Wing Commander and Lt. Colonel Tamara Duke, Commander 6th Force Support Squadron. Thank you both for allowing us to come onto your base and play tennis with the families that live there.

How lucky were we that the famous Dave Kozlowski from “Inside Tennis with the Koz” and his cameraman/producer Bob were able to film and interview participants throughout the event? I loved meeting Dave, his wife Carolyn and Bob, but I especially loved speaking with them off camera as well. We are looking forward to seeing what they put together!

JoAnne Russell holds the record for most T3 appearances. She is one of the most energetic and knowledgeable pros I know. We have to find new ways to thank you, JoAnne.

Ira Peskowitz, otherwise known to us as “Officer Ira,” is equally as energetic. He always has new and exciting drills for the participants and is a popular pro at T3’s events. We thank you Ira.

Jaime and Dawn de Carvalho have been teaching tennis more years than they care to admit, and without a doubt, are my favorite pros (they also happen to be my parents!). Thank you for making the long voyages with us, thank you for making the game so easy and so much fun for everyone. xoxox

Mark Wirth has quickly begun to feel like a member of our family. We relentlessly tease him, and he dishes it right back. This was his second event with T3 and I cannot imagine doing an event without him…despite almost losing him to the intense humidity, he hung in there and stayed on his feet. #GoHotChoklit!

Roberto Castillo and his sons Gabrielle and Lucas joined us for the first time. Roberto would still be out there teaching if we didn’t make him stop! The kids and adults on his court immediately fell in love with him. I love his boys. Somehow he and his wife Paola managed to raise amazing tennis players, as well as kind, polite and respectful kids. I hope their oldest son Sebastian can join us next time. Thank you, Castillos.

Donna Bernstein and Doctor Gideon Lewis joined us as well. Donna has been an enthusiastic supporter of T3 and we thank her for all her help, kindness and generosity. Donna is a champion for many causes, and Wheelchair Sports is one of them. Thank you Donna for all you do. Dr. Gideon is the orthopedic foot doctor for the Orlando Magic and is traveling to the Rio Olympics to be one of the doctors for our Olympians. Donna and Gideon were with us from the time the first ball was struck, until the very last one was loaded into The Beast (the F150 that hauls us and the equipment all over the United States). Thank you Donna and Gideon.

Without pictures, my blogs and our ability to promote these events would probably not be as descriptive. Trevor Chan (www.trevorkchan.com) has done an incredible job for us behind the lens of his enormous cameras. He is always at the right place at the right time to capture the right moment. I have finally given up asking him (annoyingly so), “Trevor, would you please get the shot of the little girl in the pink tutu with the orange Converse hi-tops dragging a racquet across the court?” simply because he already got the shot. Thank you Trevor.

This event was especially fun for me because we were lucky enough to have Flo Scher and Diana Walker join us. Diana designed and made the participants shirts, as well as the beautiful blue pros shirts. Flo generously donated them all. This event was called “Boots on the Court” and if you look at the design on the front of the players’ shirts and the backs of the pros’ shirts, you’ll see why they were a huge hit. People were requesting to buy more!

Flo was tireless working the Registration table, and I can honestly say that I have never seen anyone work the Survey Collection job the way Diana did! Thank you both so much. Please come to more events with us!

Here’s an interesting story; in all my years of animal rescue, I have never heard this line, “Oh, this is our dog Trixie. We rescued her from the jungles in Guam.” Wow. Since outlawing greyhound racing, the racetracks turned loose all their dogs into the jungles. They call them “jungle dogs” and that is where they live. Some people in the military community routinely round up some of the stray animals, rehabilitate them and adopt them out. Trixie is one lucky dog.

A confidential and secretive thank you goes out to Drew. You made the day much easier!

Please take a look at the pictures Trevor posted and keep in mind that we will be back on the road returning to Ft. Jackson, SC on May 9, 2015.

THANKS EVERYONE!

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Jacksonville University, FL – March 27-28, 2015

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Trevor Chan

During a function at Parent’s Weekend in the fall of 2014, the President of Jacksonville University introduced Brigadier General Mike Fleming, (Ret.) to Dick Stockton. General Fleming had just started working as Chief Government, Military and Communications Relations Officer at Jacksonville University. He was intrigued with T3 and what we brought to military bases. He came up with the idea to host an event at the University in the spring, making it the first time T3 would go to a university….we hoped the event would be a success and started planning. It was determined that the event would take place in the Historic Swisher Gym on campus.

You might ask, “What’s so historic about the Historic Swisher Gym?” Well, here is a little history on why this gym seemed like a fitting venue for T3’s Jacksonville University event:

“In 1950 it was determined that with the Korean War affecting enrollment, additional classroom buildings would not be needed. Instead, the Board of Trustees determined it would concentrate on badly needed other facilities, such as a gymnasium. The Carl Swisher Foundation donated $250,000 on October 25, 1952 toward the cost of construction. When work was completed, the university had a 2,000 seat gymnasium, the largest in the county, for a total cost of $310,000. The community at large was also a beneficiary, with ice shows, professional tennis matches, and Gator Bowl basketball tournaments held in the facility. The gymnasium helped fill a void in the community–the lack of an adequate civic and sports arena. The thespians of the university also utilized the facility for their productions, and commencement exercises were held there by the university. Of note is that the structure is located about where it appeared on the original master plan for the campus.” – Historic Campus Architecture Project

In 1972, Jimmy Connors won his first professional tournament in the Historic Swisher Gym. Our very own Dick Stockton was also a participant in that very same tournament. It only seemed fitting that we held the whole event there.

Another first for T3 was the Wounded Warriors clinic. Before any balls were struck that afternoon, the set-up in the gym was christened by Jacksonville’s Provost/Chief Academic Advisor Dr. Wenying Xu when she hit in her stocking feet with T3 pro JoAnne Russell! Now that’s dedication!

The very first Wounded Warrior to participate was John Fernandez, currently a student at University of Florida. John has an amazing story that you can see on our website. He showed off his athletic abilities and tennis talents. John was once a three sport athlete and promised to play more tennis when he returned to school.

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The next Wounded Warrior to take part in the clinic was Leonard Goodson, III accompanied by his wife Precious and Lester’s service dog, Duncan. Duncan stole the show and reminded us why a dog is a man’s best friend. Leonard, Precious, Duncan and John joined us afterwards at a reception at the River House, where President Tim Cost welcomed us all.

Jacksonville University is proud to be home to the largest population of student veterans and students of Fallen Heroes, as well as faculty members who are veterans.

Saturday afternoon boasted a line-up of incredible pro talent: Dick Stockton, Brian Gottfried, JoAnne Russell, Steve Contardi, Mario Contardi, Jaime and Dawn de Carvalho, Mark Wirth, Chip Travis and Weller Evans.

At every T3 event, I am always overwhelmed by the generosity of all the volunteers. T3 is fortunate to have worked with some of the most helpful, kind and caring volunteers in the world. We would like to thank the following volunteers: Sheri Taylor, Ric Wallace and Cassandra Jackson.

Without a doubt, without the USO T3 would not even come close to being so successful. The USO has partnered with us from Day One and is beyond generous and supportive. Big thanks to Mike O’Brien and Bob Ross for the delicious meal, the coolest hats and visors and for EVERYTHING. Pink camouflage baseball hats are the most amazing accessories ever.

A special shout out to Clayton Levins, Presidential Fellow at Jacksonville University. There isn’t a question Clayton can’t answer, something he can’t find, or a problem he can’t solve. Thank you for your hard work and for your endless energy. While we wish you all the very best at Princeton Divinity School next year, we can’t imagine how we’ll pull off the event next year without you….please consider putting off grad school….just kidding (sort of!).

They say that a picture tells a thousand words. Trevor Chan, the official T3 photographer has literally taken thousands of pictures at our events. Trevor’s uncanny ability to capture the unique nature of every event is uncanny. Thank you Trevor! Thank you for taking all those incredible pictures. Thank your adorable baby daughter Skye and your generous wife for letting us borrow you for all our events.

I am lucky and so grateful that I am able to have my family come to T3 events. This past weekend I was able to work with and spend time with my parents, Jaime and Dawn, my best friend and sister, Joy and her boys, my nephews, PJ and Matthew. To top it all off, our son Spencer’s baseball team, the JU Dolphins hosted Missouri State and we got to watch him pitch. What a great way to end an incredible weekend.

We are grateful, honored and humbled by the kindness and generosity of spirit shown to us by Jacksonville University and its staff. We are looking forward to next year!

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Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph – October 18, 2014

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Trevor Chan

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph: October 18, 2014

San Antonio, Texas

They say you can’t go home, I beg to differ. Yesterday 11 members of various Trinity University Men’s and Women’s tennis teams came together to help T3 put on another event at JBSAR.

Dick Stockton, Brian Gottfried, Bill McGowan, Pancho Walthall, Jim Timmins, Butch Newman, John Newman, Gretchen Rush, Lisa Sassano Westergard, Cheyenne Duncan, Nicole Rueb, all came together on the four courts at JBSAR and brought tennis to the military. Yes, you can go home.

For me, an outsider to the group, it was an incredible experience to hear the stories from the past and to witness the camaraderie between old friends and teammates. I know Coach Clarence Mabry was there in spirit, laughing along with his charges and wondering how he survived them.

When Dick started the introductions, you could see the reactions from the participants were ones of amazement, awe and genuine appreciation. When Dick talked about Gretchen Rush being ranked Number One in the World as a junior, someone in the crowd said out loud, “That’s something!” When Dickie introduced Brian Gottfried as the Number Three Player in the World and part of the Number One Doubles Team in the World, a teenager said, “Wow. Can I get on his court?” And those are just two examples of the talent that was assembled there on Saturday, October 18, 2014.

When we got to the courts at 9:00 to finish set-up, the adjoining field was filled with military families participating in a flag football league. Many people wandered over and signed up to play tennis later that afternoon. Military families face many challenges, deployment of parents, constant moves, searching for activities for kids within base boundaries, high risk for obesity, dropping out of school, to name a few. Activities that are free or inexpensive and on base become essential to keeping it all together. T3 is laser-focused on bringing tennis to these resilient families.

Marlin Richardson and Jonathan Pettigrew work at the Fitness and Recreation Department on base. They arrived with us to begin the set-up process, and remained through-out the day until take-down. Thank you both. Although we joked and had a lot of laughs, often at our own expense, I think the day ran smoothly and efficiently as a direct result of their efforts.

We cannot say enough good things about La Familia Contardi, without whom none of the events we put on would ever run as smoothly. Steve Contardi is always visible with a clipboard and a megaphone, keeping us all moving and in line. Mario’s sharp eye for detail and soft-spoken manner make him a popular pro with the participants. I find myself standing on the edge of his court watching him coax forehands and backhands out of rank beginners.

Enough about the tennis playing Contardis. Let’s talk about the person in charge of this amazing tennis clan…Debbie Contardi. Somebody said that Debbie looks the like female version of Harry Caray, with her perfectly coifed blonde hair and big, black glasses. She shows up on the scene and I am instantly relieved and know that things at registration will run with military efficiency. Towards the end of the 90 plus degree day, Debbie took to the Contardi van to get an AC fix and to take a breather, but that didn’t stop her from running the show. She rolled down the window and told us all what to do regarding take-down. She gets the “Line of the Day Award” with this gem: “Oh, I don’t need to be out there, I like sitting here in the van shouting out orders.” And she is darn good at it. Take-down ran like clockwork.

There are more Contardis to thank. Katie Contardi and her husband Brian were also at the Registration Desk. They didn’t need to be told what to do. I have never had the pleasure of working with two more enthusiastic, as well as upbeat volunteers. Brian did everything from sign-in, to take-down, to removing banners, to helping me pack the Beast (the big blue F150). Katie is like her mom, efficient, professional and tireless. Did I mention that she is a constant ray of sunshine? Again, thank you doesn’t seem to be enough for all the Contardis do.

The Contardi clan can now be found at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, TX, running the Legends Tennis Fantasy Camp for the next 5 days. This is the 27th anniversary of Fantasy Camp, and I know that all 104 campers, as well as the Legends, are looking forward to being in the presence of greatness, Mr. Rod Laver. This is Rod’s first appearance at Fantasy Camp and if I wasn’t so fearful of all the testosterone and other lethal male-related things, I would be tempted to hang around just to hear what The Greatest of All Time Tennis Player had to say. Enjoy campers! (If you don’t know what the Tennis Fantasy Camp is all about, please look it up- it’s the brain child of Steve Contardi and if you, or anyone you know is a tennis fanatic, this could be the most awesome present ever).

T3 is a family affair. Dickie gets all the credit for this incredible idea, and all of us related to him have pitched in to help make his dream of bringing tennis to military bases a reality. My sister, mom, father, brother and nephews have all participated in events. This past Saturday, Dick’s son Cole and daughter-in-law Chelsea drove from Austin, TX to help with the JBSAR event. Not only was it wonderful to visit with Cole and Chelsea, but they were a great addition to the volunteer crew as well. Thanks so much Chelsea and Cole. We look forward to being together again in the very near future….

We have had the great fortune of having Trevor Chan as our T3 photographer. This weekend, however, because of the proximity of JBSAR and Fantasy camp, T3 was able to have Fantasy Camp and professional photographer Ken Munson take pictures. Thank you Ken for your incredible eye and for your time. T3 is truly blessed to be able to have two world class photographers recording our memories. Ken is now shooting tennis legends and weekend warriors at Fantasy Camp. Have fun Ken!

Alan Waterman was our USO representative and lunch legend. He is a happy soul who loves tennis, the USO and tennis! Alan was not only able to serve lunch, drinks, snacks and fruit to everyone, but he participated in the last adult clinic. Add “good tennis player” to his list of attributes. Thank you Alan, we enjoyed you as much as you enjoyed the event.

After tagging along with the Trinity tennis legends, Dickie and Brian dropped me off at the airport in San Antonio. They headed to New Braunfels, and I got ready to fly back to South Florida. Already I miss them! Thank you Brian Gottfried for being such a good friend and a calming presence. Bill McGowan hired me as a tennis pro when I moved to Dallas, and I will never forget his kindness and all the lessons he taught me. It was great to spend time with him once again. No matter how many times I spend time with Dickie’s contemporaries/good friends, I always leave in awe of their humility, dignity and loyalty.

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph is T3’s last event for 2014. We had an incredible year and are now setting our sights on the Pacific Tour in the spring, “Boots on the Courts,” as well as England and Germany. Come along for the ride!

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Joint Base Andrews – September 27, 2014

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Trevor Chan

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They say you can’t go home, but that’s exactly what we did on Saturday, September 27, 2014, we returned to Joint Base Andrews for our
second T3 event there. While many of the faces have changed, some remained and it was like going home again. Charles, Lt. Colonel Dan Huckins, Colonel Dan Waters, his wife Liz and their twins Jessica and Josh felt like family. So, it was with great anticipation that we packed up the F150 on Wednesday and headed north.

Everything was running with military efficiency when I turned around to make sure the patriotic Wreaths by Dawn weren’t getting smashed in the back seat…..they weren’t getting smashed because they weren’t there. I had forgotten to pack them. After several frantic phone calls to my Dad and Art at Pak Mail in Wellington, Fl., it was resolved. For a mere Bazillion dollar, we would have the wreaths shipped two day air (you don’t even want to know how much over night would have cost). Crisis averted. Thanks Art and Dad Jaime.

After dinner at Taco Lu’s in Jacksonville with our son Spencer and his roommate Sean (boy, college boys sure can eat!), we got back into the truck and arrived at JBA Thursday afternoon. The weather was a cool 69 degrees, but the weather report for Saturday was promising, 78 degrees with lots of sun.

T3JointBaseAndrews2014-0414 Isaac Melendez, Charles Stevenson and Jason Creech met us at the courts to do a preliminary walk-through on Friday morning. Shortly thereafter, we met Lt. Colonel Colin Huckins for lunch at the on-base golf course, followed by a tour of the base. JBA is known for housing Air Force One. We were able to drive past the private hanger and private landing strip where the plane is housed. There is even a private entrance for the Presidential Motorcade. It’s really amazing.

Here’s an interesting fact, since there is a lot of air traffic on base, all the lakes and ponds on base are covered by large nets to keep flocks of birds from hanging out there. Large flocks of birds are a danger to aircraft, as they can get sucked into the plane’s engines. Speaking of wild life, Lt. Colonel Huckins was kind enough to pull over on Perimeter Road while I rescued a red bellied slider turtle. Dick, I’m sure, was cringing in the front seat.

We enjoyed lunch at the golf club and loved meeting the General Manager of the club, Mike Thomas, a fellow jelly bean connoisseur.

T3JointBaseAndrews2014-0038 Mario and Steve Contardi arrived from Cincinnati, along with Ellen Stone from North Carolina, my sister Joy and her boys, PJ and Matthew from New York. Lt. Colonel Huckins kindly invited us to the Family Fun Day on Friday and the boys enjoyed rock climbing, playing corn hole and face painting. What an incredible afternoon.

We cannot thank Liz and Colonel Dan Waters enough for their help, kindness and hospitality. Last year Liz appeared out of nowhere and helped promote our first event at JBA. This year she not only helped in that area, but she had all of us over for a delicious dinner at her house. Thank goodness Colonel Waters found us wandering around the neighborhood, lost and unable to find their house only blocks away! Thank you Waters Family!

Other special thanks go out to Liz Waters for organizing the Registration Desk Volunteer crew: Margaret Tom, Stephanie Reed, Liz Davis and Brook Scanlon.

Saturday morning arrived full of sunshine and promise. Volunteers dressed in navy shorts and gold T- shirts appeared and were a force to be recognized. LS1 Darren Littleon, LS1 Vakita Crawford, LS2 Paul Nguyen and LS2 Phillip Smith stayed all morning and helped us set up the courts. A special thanks goes out to LS1 Darren Littleton. He stayed ALL DAY, climbing fences, picking up balls, running water to the pros and participants, setting up, breaking down and everything in between. I only hope that his sunburn isn’t too bad today! Thank you Darren!

Special thanks go out to Lt. Sarah Turner. Not only did she stay all Setting up day as well, but she chauffeured us to and from the security gate for three days. She and her group of volunteers were friendly, helpful, willing to do any task and made our jobs so much easier. JBA II is our 6th event, and yet we are still overwhelmed by the willingness to help shown by all. So, here is yet another Shout Out Thank You: Charles MacDonald, Shannon Moore, Dennis Robisky Leeland Turner, Christian Clark.

Meg and John Hauge, their son David and his coach David Paulina joined T3 this year and set up chess tables under a beautiful, old oak tree beside the courts. They had 20 people sign-up for chess, but it appeared they had double that amount throughout the day as they learned how to play chess, or master a new move. What an incredible experience. I have always felt that tennis is like a game of chess, before making a move a player needs to think out several other moves and possibilities in advance. Meg and the foundation “Chess Challenge in DC” were a wonderful compliment to the tennis. We cannot thank them enough. Please visit her foundation’s website and pick up a chess board- you can play it anywhere, with anyone.

I would also like to point out that a must-see movie about chess, “Brooklyn Castle” is available on Netflix. Without giving anything away, you will be blown away by this short, but moving movie.

Sometime this past spring, Dick was contacted by Helen Hyun. Helen’s daughter, Kaitlyn Hyun, is a 15 year old high school tennis player in Falls Church, Virginia. She plays tennis at the Four Star Tennis Academy and attends church at the CCPC church in Centerville, VA. She collected over 30 racquets and since the spring, and had the idea that she would give them to a military recreational center. I asked her how she got that generous and brilliant idea and here’s what she said, “I love tennis and I wanted to share that love of the game. I know some military families and I know that life is hard for them, always moving around, so I wanted to do something for them.”

Kaitlyn not only donated some racquets to the West Fitness Center at JBA, but she also gave away some racquets to participants of the T3 event who immediately fell in love with the game, and needed equipment. What an amazing young lady! Please send good vibes Kaitlyn’s way as she prepares for her high school spring season. Her school has a very good team, and according to Kaitlyn, “We almost won States.” Well, Kaitlyn, I know I’m joined by everyone at T3 and at JBA in wishing you luck, and thanking you for being such a pro-active and forward thinking young adult. Thank you Kaitlyn, Helen and Tyler, Kaitlyn’s younger brother. All three stayed all day and volunteered both on and off the court. Yet another awesome family.
This year we were all fortunate enough to meet four outstanding young men from the United States Naval Academy and their Associate Head Coach, John Moreland. Midshipman Tucker Massie (Bloomfield Hills, MI), Midshipman Thomas Pecor (Houston, TX), Midshipman Walker Sims (Memphis, TN) and Midshipman Tyler Tossavainen (Fleming Island, FL) were generous with their time and tennis expertise. They were tireless on the courts and I know that everyone appreciated having them there.

Once again, an event is only as good as its volunteers. I am always amazed by the dedication of the pros. They are able to connect with the players and get many of the participants to fall in love with the game as a result of their enthusiasm. Thank you Tommy Wade, who traveled all the way from Alabama. He was joined by his lovely daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Colin. Thank you Elizabeth, for sharing your tireless father with us. We are blessed to have him join us.

Thank you to my sister Joy. She is my best friend, fashion consultant, partner in crime and means everything to me. She and her funny, talented and ADORABLE (Ok, ok, I’m allowed to brag about her kids) made the event all the more special. Joy has a doctorate in physical therapy, played tennis for Tulane University on a four year full ride and is a good teaching pro as well. Abrigado!

How can we thank the Contardis? Mario and Steve drove in from Ohio and ran the event for us. Steve looks at a list, organizes names and levels of abilities and then tells everyone where to go and what to do….and it all goes off without a hitch. I am in awe of the Contardis. THANK YOU!

Another shout out to local pros Damon Austin, Bobby Hollins, Zach Tobias and Patrick Moss. It’s always great to see a familiar face, and Damon, you are definitely a part of the T3 family. THANKS GUYS!

Not only is Richey Renneberg one of the great American tennis players, he is an incredibly humble and quite presence on the court. If I won as many titles as he did,and if I owned the Number One Doubles Ranking in the world, you know I’d be branding that information on a blinded-out T Shirt. He hit with anyone who asked, coached all the players on his court tirelessly and the smile never left his face. Richey, thank you and please join us for another T3 event (and hit with me next time please!!)

Once again, the USO pulled up n their food truck and served hot dogs, chips, fruit, water and jelly beans. They donated all the baseball hats and goody bags. Jake and Martha spent the entire day at JBA with us, and only packed up after the last clinic got on the court. They played great tunes all day and made sure everyone had water, food and was satisfied. THANK YOU doesn’t quite cover it. We are honored and humbled to be partners with the USO in our T3 ventures.

You are probably reading this blog on the T3 Facebook page, or on our website,www.theblueskyfoundation.com. I promise you, the pictures that you see have nothing to do with me! We met Trevor Chan at JBA last year and he has been a member of our T3 family ever since, our official photographer, web manager and consultant. We’ve happily adopted all of his family as well! His wife, Joy, beautiful baby girl Skye, sister Vivian, and brothers Jonathan and Alvin were a part of the JBA event this Saturday. Every time I asked Trevor to “get a shot of so and so,” he would calmly smile and say, “I already did Liz, but I’ll take another one if you want.’” I would punch me, Trevor just laughs on the inside and takes all the pictures I would have wanted to take myself. THANK YOU Trevor! And thanks for letting me hold Skye Lin, a highlight of my weekend.

No blog or thank you would be complete without a heartfelt and very special thank you to Ellen Stone. Ellen has been with us on this journey from the very beginning. She and Dickie go back a long way, and we are honored and touched by her dedication, friendship and dignity. Thank you Ellen. xox

As I out this blog to bed and post the final pictures from JBA, we are getting ready to make the journey to Joint Base Randolph in San Antonio, Texas on October 16th. “On the road again….” please join us!

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!

Now check out all the pictures from the event below!

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Rochester, NY – September 5-7, 2014

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Trevor Chan

The older I get, the more I realize life is all about making connections and maintaing them. This past weekend, T3 was fortunate enough to spend some time with an amazing group of people in Rochester, New York.

Several years ago, my husband participated in an event at the Midtown Tennis Club in Rochester. Luckily hewas partnered with Mary Maida, an amazing individual, great player and one of the most generous humans you will ever meet.

Mary took it upon herself to contact friends and business associates, bring them together and for two days we played tennis, ate, drank and brain-stormed about how to raise funds for T3. Both Dickie and I were overwhelmed by the outpouring of ideas and donations. Somehow, “thank you” doesn’t quite cover it.

The weekend started with a meeting at the Equinecenter, at the William and Mildred Levine Ranch with Jonathan Friedlander, President and CEO and Susan Taylor- Brown, PhD, MPH and Director of Operations. The Equicenter provides therapeutic equestrian programs for people with disabilites, at risk youth and their families. Their Horses for Heroes program offers therapeutic horseback riding as a tool for improving muscle stimulation, strengthening, coordination, flexibility, posture and balance for wounded veteran’s physical injuries. The lessons also help veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).

PTSD, or Post traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the common disorders we are now seeing in retuning veterans. Programs such as Horses for Heroes are oftentimes the one link that keeps these vets from giving up hope, and in fact, help them reintegrate back into society and their lives.

“The multi-dimensional movement of the horse recreates the human gait more effectively than any other means of physical therapy. Horses are dynamic, sensitive animals that communicate through the subtle use of body language. They respond to situations giving immediate, honest feedback without judgement. Horses are large and powerful animals, which naturally create an opportunity for individuals to overcome fear and develop greater self-confidence. Horses have their own unique personalities, attitudes, moods and backgrounds, which provide endless experiences and situations for growth, healing, learning and relationship building.” (Equicenter website).

Equinecenter, at the William and Mildred Levine Ranch

Dick and I live in the middle of horse country here in Wellington, and yet we have so much to learn about these magnificent animals and the life changing work being done by Jonathan and Susan and the Equicenter. We cannot thank them both enough for sharing with us their ideas, their time and encouragement. Please visit their website to get the full picture of what they do and perhaps consider helping them continue their mission (www.equicenterny.org). The work they do is made possible in part by grants from the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation, as well as the Bob Woodruff Foundation. We are both honored and humbled by their contributions to veterans, and look forward to the possibility of future collaborative efforts between T3 and the Equicenter. We stand together to conquer!

Friday afternoon found us at the Midtown Athletic Club. Midtown is a beautiful tennis, paddle, squash, spa, gym and restaurant all rolled into one. Glen William is the general manager and part-owner of the club. His vision has turned this club into one of the most comprehensive and beautiful clubs I’ve ever seen. Glenn generously donated court time, along with three pros to work with us. Dina, Larame and Greg helped with our clinic and for that we are grateful.

The clinics consisted of three courts with about four-five participants on each. After about an hour of drilling and running everyone into the ground, we took to court one and played a Challenger. After holding the lead the whole game, my team fell to Team Dickie 21-19 on an amazing drop shot, framer volley by Tamra.

All participants retired poolside for drinks and appetizers, where we relived the Challenger and talked about connections with military personnel. It’s safe to stay that everyone was in bed early Friday night. Thanks to Mary and her husband David’s kindness, we spent the night at their beautiful home on Lake Canandaigua. When we went to bed it was about 85 degrees.

When we woke up Saturday morning, it was about 65 degrees and overcast. The afternoon tennis was once again moved to the Midtown Athletic Club. After three and a half hours of really intense tennis, we piled into cars and made the drive across town to Mario’s. Mario’s is an Italian restaurant in Rochester….now, I am an Italian food snob. As far as I’m concerned, once you leave a 25 mile radius of NYC, Italian food consists of bland, chain food places. Mario’s changed my opinion. The food was delicious. And once again, ideas and plans were tossed around for helping T3 raise the necessary funds to reach as many bases as we possibly can.

Baseball Legends John Antonelli and Del Crandall at Mario's restaurant. — Baseball Legends John Antonelli and Del Crandall at Mario’s restaurant.

The big surprise of the weekend was bumping into two legends of baseball, Del Crandall and John Antonelli, catcher and pitcher in the 1950’s. Mr. Antonelli overheard Dick say that his first love growing up was actually not tennis, but rather baseball. Thankfully, Mr. Antonelli made it a point of stopping by our table and introducing himself and his teammate and life-long friend, Mr. Crandall.

Just to emphasis how small the world really is, and to further illustrate how connected we really all are, I discovered that Mr. Antonelli’s brother was a professor and retired Colonel at the Norwich Military Academy in Vermont…..my brother went to school there! This won’t surprise anyone who knows me, but the rest of conversation was all about baseball. Mr. Antonelli pitched Game Two of the World Series between the Giants and the Cleveland Indians (W) and saved Game Four. Mr. Crandall was an All Star catcher and was known for his uncanny pitch-calling skills. Both men are Korean War Veterans. Can you say IDOL WORSHIP!

Once again, we cannot thank everyone enough for the hospitality, friendship and generosity that was shown to us. David S., David F., Joe, Tamra, Susan, Jonathan, Matt, Harold, Frank, Rich, Beth, Kathy, Ann, Jim, Ali, Rob, Fred, Kate, Martha and Brad. None of this would have happened had it not been for Mary, a GIANT thank you and xoxoxo to her. And last but not least, Caesar. Woof!

— with Dick Stockton.

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Ft. Bragg, NC – June 7, 2014

Posted on June 12, 2014 by dickstockton

Kevin giving Dick a Patriotic Wreath from "Wreathes by Dawn" thank you for all you did to make the day a success — Kevin giving Dick a Patriotic Wreath from “Wreathes by Dawn” thank you for all you did to make the day a success

Saturday, June 7, 2014 marked T3’s second visit to Ft. Bragg, NC. On July 2, 2013 Ft. Bragg was the site of our very first event What a difference in weather! Last year’s event was held at the Phipps Epps Fitness Center due to torrential rain and flash flood warnings, this year we were able to stay outdoors on a beautiful summer day.

About 160 participants signed up for a day of tennis and fun. The majority of the participants this year were kids. How cool was that?

Everyone got a T3 band, a T-shirt, a USO hat and a great day of instruction. The USO once again proved why they are invaluable partners by providing lunch for everyone. Thank you Ed Shock, Cristin Perry and the North Carolina USO personnel: Renee Lane, Director and Beverly Jackson, Assistant.

Once again, the amazing JoAnne Russell joined us along with Tim Wilkison, former top ranked US junior, 23 ranked player in the world and all around great guy. Many of you might remember him as “Dr. Dirt,” a nickname he earned by diving around the grass at Wimbledon. Thank you both for taking the time to thank our troops and their families for all their sacrifices.

‘It was a great experience participating in the Ft. Bragg event. The day was well-organized, all the coaches did a great job, there were a lot of volunteers, the players were enthusiastic and it wasn’t too hot!” -Tim

T3 was honored to have the following pros helping us as well: Lt. Col. Jay Ware, US Army and USPTA member (stationed at Ft. Bragg), Kevin Caccia, Director of Tennis at Highland Country Club, Fayetteville, NC and Francie Barrigan, former NC State star and currently the Head Women’s Coach at Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC.

The Second Annual T3/Ft. Bragg Event could not have happened without the invaluable help of Jackie Thomas and Kevin Wells. They once again were able to pull everything together, make it all seamless and successful. When Dick saw Kevin’s family at the event, he said, “It felt like returning and seeing family.” Jackie commented, “You guys are like my family!” That’s how we roll at T3. Our events are typically large

affairs, but they have the feel of a big family reunion. I think the reason for that feeling is due largely to the fact that military people and support personnel are extremely respectful, connect quickly, help others and are so willing to put themselves out there for anyone. We’ve never encountered anything like that in all the years we’ve been doing events. This gives us the drive to push for more events, more bases and more tennis. Thanks to everyone! A giant shout-out goes to the amazing volunteers: Gwendolyn Fleming, Indira Harris, Martha Ramirez, Julie Milani, Wanda Wozniak, Becky Shigekawa, Jessica Velasquez, Dr. Jillian Ballantyne and anyone else I’ve left off because I wasn’t able to get your names- you’re not forgotten! xoxo

Ellen Stone, a T3 founding partner made sure that the registration process went smoothly. We’d like to congratulate Ellen and her daughter Anna, who was recently accepted to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Another shout-out goes to T3’s photographer Trevor Chan and his wife Joy on the birth of their baby girl, Skye Lin Chan on June 5, 2014. Skye Lin is a big, beautiful and healthy baby and we can’t wait to put a racquet in her hand!

As our program continues to grow, we are able to add new bases to our schedule, as well as return to others. This is truly a sign of the program’s success. Ft. Bragg marked a special moment in T3’s history, as it illustrates our successful “test” event, as well as a successful return engagement.

We are now taking the summer to book more events, raise money and plan on making T3 an even better product. Please take a moment to read the below sampling of testimonials taken at Ft. Bragg.

T3’s next event will be at Joint Base Andrews in Morningside, MD on September 27, 2014. Following JBA, we will be at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL on November 15, 2014.

“Very positive experience for little kids and adults. Pros and volunteers showed great passion for tennis, teaching and troops. Thank you!”

“Everyone was so kind. The smile on the kids’ faces says it all… it was perfect! Thank you!”

“The event was well organized. The volunteers were very friendly and warm. The pros seemed to really enjoy what they are doing. Thank you for all of the effort to make this happen.”

“The clinic was run extremely well. My son had a blast. The coaches were great with the kids.”

And this one is my personal favorite: “My 7 year old said, ‘This was the best day ever.’ My 8 year old said, ‘Mom, I want to play tennis now.’ This opened up a whole new sport for them.”

Thank you Ft. Bragg!

Ft. Jackson, SC – May 17, 2014

Posted on May 17, 2014 by dickstockton

T3’s Ft. Jackson event was our fourth one in under a year. After each of the first three events, Staff sat down and did a “post-event wrap-up.” We asked the usual questions: how can we make the next one better, what worked, what didn’t work, what should we add, what should we change….? But the one question that always comes up is: “Can we possibly match the success of the last event?” I’m happy to answer that question with a resounding, “YES!”

Before you start to think that I’m arrogant and being boastful, let me just say this: although we at Blue Sky/T3 would love to take credit for the successes of these events, it has very little to do with what we bring to the table. The last four T3 events were big hits because of the military personnel behind them.

When Dickie and I pulled onto base late Friday afternoon, we made the scenic drive to the four courts tucked into the pine trees. What we saw blew us away. MWR (Moral, Welfare and Recreation) had cleaned the courts and the surrounding area and put up patriot bunting all over the fencing. What an amazing difference that made! We didn’t ask them to do that, they just did.

We arrived as the courts the next morning at 8:00: MWR was already there, completely set up…all we had to do was unload the truck.

Every time one of us turned around, someone was there asking, “Can we do anything to help, Sir?” Military families are notoriously helpful. After the event was over, Tricia Sheffield grabbed a ladder and clippers and single-handedly took down all the banners from the fencing. She then folded them up, put them away and turned her attention to packing up the T-shirts. Big deal, you might say…well, this is after she won the morning triathlon and participated in the adult clinics. It was a wonder that she was still standing! Thanks, Tricia!

Amy Beiger, Col. Mark Beiger’s wife, spent the day shuttling people around and later participated in the adult clinics. She and her beautiful yellow lab, Bella, were awesome.

One of the special touches at Ft. Jackson was the excitement of the local kids. Two little boys were riding by on their bikes and stopped to see what the activity was all about. They decided to stay and participate, later becoming ball boys for the pro-am. They took a 15 minute break to ride through their neighborhoods to collect more friends. Before we knew it, there were packs of kids on bikes signing up to hit with Coach Ira and Coach JoAnne. Sometimes, your participants sell the event for you!

Participant Joe Roche met Col. Jaime Houston at a tennis tournament earlier in the year. Joe was watching the Colonel and his son play doubles. Tennis makes the world a smaller place, and Col. Houston invited Joe to the Ft. Jackson T3 event. Joe did in fact participate in the event, and told us that he knew JoAnne Russell’s brother through the restaurant business. After the event, we all went to Joe’s restaurant, Villa Trunco and enjoyed some of the best fried calamari, crab cakes and

Future Gran Slam winner, or ballet dancer

Italian food (south of New York, of course…..). We were treated to a great evening in one of the few buildings that General Sherman didn’t burn down to the ground during the Civil War. The restaurant survived the great fire, with smoke scars on the bricks to bear witness. At some point, the building then became a fire house. Walking through the funny little rooms to the back, we could still see the stables and stalls,the fire house logos and the loft above us where hay was stored. How cool!!

We are so grateful to Col. Houston for everything that he did to make this event possible. Not only is he a great athlete, tennis player, a phenomenal solider and all around great guy, he is a very good dentist. I’m so sorry that he caught me opening a bottle of water with my teeth, but I did promise to rinse with Listerine on a regular basis. I promise not to tell anyone that Col. Houston did give me an entire canister of red licorice for the ride home. It didn’t make it past Georgia….

Big shout-outs go to Coaches Ira Peskowitz, JoAnne Russell, Chuck Kriese, Bill Simpson, Mark Hancock, Kevin Epley and Ryan Young.

Thank you to everyone who helped that I failed to mention. You are so appreciated and we are honored to work with you.

Please look for social media on the next T3 Event at Ft. Bragg, the first base to be revisited by the T3 program!

Thank a soldier. Hug a Vet.

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Eglin Air Force Base – April 25, 2014

Posted on April 25, 2014 by dickstockton

Boots on the Court rolled into 2014 with its first event yesterday at Eglin Air Force Base. Last fall, Eglin contacted Boots on the Court and asked if we would help with the inauguration of their eight new tennis courts. With no time to spare, we immediately picked a date and started planning.

Dick was joined by the tennis legend, public servant, philanthropist and humanitarian Andrea Jaegar. If you’re not familiar with Andrea’s career, it’s certainly worth your time to Google her. Andrea is a former World #2 professional tennis player. In 1983 Andrea reached the finals of Wimbledon, and the French Open in 1982. Also in 1982, she reached the semis of the Australian and the U.S. Open. In 1980, she became the youngest player ever to be seeded at Wimbledon.

T3 Coach ready to teach — Boots on the Court Coach ready to teach

During her short, yet amazing career, Andrea visited many hospitals, and it was during those visits that the idea came to her to create the Silver Lining Foundation located in Aspen, Colorado. Silver Lining transports groups of young cancer patients to the ranch for a week where they can participate in many outdoor activities. Silver Lining helps provide college scholarships, money for family reunions, medical internships and other programs for those in need. We are honored and humbled to have someone such as Andrea helping us bring tennis to the troops.

Andrea was just one of the many pros in attendance. She was joined by the tireless Tommy Wade, one of the USPTA testers and Master Pro and the Contardis: Steve, Debbie, Mario, otherwise known as the First Family of Tennis. What other family do you know of that would load up their van and drive to the various bases around the country? Of course, no event would be complete without the great JoAnne Russell! She always finds a way to attend and her court is always the loudest and most fun. Some of the local pros in attendance were: Joe D’Aleo, Sam Vickroy, Jr., (NOTE: Sam Vickroy Sr. is not only a USPTA pro in Alabama, but he was also awarded the Purple Heart from his time spent in Vietnam), Chuck Straley, Kevin Dunworth, Mario Alvarez, Adriana Solarova, Glen Howe (USPTA Master Pro), Brett Beattie (Coach of the Niceville High School Girls Tennis Team, State Camps 2014) and Greg Bennett.

An estimated 100 participants showed up to play tennis at the beautiful new tennis complex. This particular event was defined by the many kids who played. Some little ones signed up for the early sessions and were still there by the time the last group took to the courts.

Any event is only as successful as the volunteers who work it. Boots on the Court is so grateful to those who donate their time and money to help us bring tennis to the troops and their support groups. We have never had to beg anyone to help. We have been so lucky to have an over-abundance of volunteers!

It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were putting on our first event at Ft. Bragg last July. We were both elated and a little nervous….we thought that no other base could ever be as successful as the Ft. Bragg event. The volunteers set the bar extremely high for others, that we collectively held our breaths as we planned Joint Base Andrews and Eglin Air Force Base. While we discovered that no two bases are alike, and each place has a different “flavor,” we have been elated to learn that every base is blessed with INCREDIBLE volunteers. Thank you!

Colonel Cannon starts us off with the Serving Ceremony

As Boots on the Court grows, the importance of raising funds becomes even more apparent. In order to do so, we have begun the process of recording our events, putting together media guides and diving into social media. We have been so fortunate to have the talents of the best event photographer, Trevor Chan. Trevor was a participant at Joint Base Andrews. We noticed him immediately because not only was he a really good tennis player, but he is also an awesome photographer. When he wasn’t smacking forehands, he was snapping photos. Trevor is the official photographer for Boots on the Court. He generously donates his time and talents and we are so thankful for our great fortune in finding him. Please check out all his pictures from both Eglin and JBA.

The event at Eglin began with a “Serving Ceremony” instead of a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Colonel Cannon not only managed to hit a great serve, but he got it into the box on the first try!

Special thanks to the USTA for promising to follow up at Eglin by ensuring that tennis continues at the base.

A special shout-out goes to Jennifer Deutsche and the Doner company for creating the Boots on the Court promotional brochure. Please ask to see it if you think you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a corporate sponsor.

In an interesting blend of community, military and civilian life, the Lewis Middle School Girls and Boys Tennis Teams led by Coach Scholl, proudly practice and play their matches at Eglin. Every afternoon, the kids leave the middle school, and make the 5 minute walk to the gate. Thank you Eglin!

Please be on the look-out for information on our next event on May 17, 2014 at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina.

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