Celebrities Join Raymond James/Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic
TV personality/producer Randy Jackson and film/television actor Shawn Hatosy will be making their first appearances in the Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, scheduled for November 18-20. The 27th annual charity event raises funds to combat drug abuse and child neglect in South Florida.
Since retiring from the professional game in 1989 as an 18-time Grand Slam champion, South Florida philanthropist Chris Evert has raised more than $22 million through her charity tennis weekend.
Evert annually enlists the help of her celebrity friends to support the fundraiser. Joining Jackson and Hatosy for the 2016 event are a group of actors who are past participants: Alan Thicke, Kevin McKidd, Timothy Olyphant, Jason Biggs and Maeve Quinlan. Singer/songwriter David Cook has also confirmed that he will attend the charity weekend.
Jackson is a musician, producer and entrepreneur best known for his 12 years (2002-2014) as an “American Idol” judge and two years as executive producer of MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew” (2008-2010).
Hatosy is currently starring as Pope in the TV series “Animal Kingdom” and also had a leading role in a five-year run as Sammy Bryant in the critically-acclaimed “Southland” (2009-2013) TV series.
Thicke first achieved notoriety as Jason Seaver in “Growing Pains,” and is currently hosting a second season of the POP network’s “Unusually Thicke.” McKidd is in his ninth season as Owen Hunt in “Grey’s Anatomy” while former “Justified” star Olyphant recently appeared in “This is Where I Leave You”. Biggs co-starred with wife Jenny Moller in last month’s release ofAmateur Night while Quinlan has a starring role in the upcoming November release Liquorice.
The 2016 event will continue to feature a Tennis Pro-Am and Classic Cocktail Reception at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (Friday, Nov. 18); Pro-Celebrity Tennis sessions at the Delray Beach Tennis Center (Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 19 & 20); and the signature Charity Gala(Saturday, Nov. 19), an elegant evening of dinner and dancing that includes live and silent auctions at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
Chris Evert Charities partners with the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, a public-private partnership blending state and private dollars and investing them in innovative, community-based programs. The programs give Florida children a chance to live free from the ravages of drug abuse and neglect. Chris Evert Charities has also funded 41 scholarships that have assisted single moms in attaining college degrees.
Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic premium seats range in price from $40 to $90 for both Saturday and Sunday sessions. Club seats with seat backs are $40 per day or $70 for the weekend and courtside box seats (rows 1-8) are $90 per day or $175 for both sessions. General admission tickets are $20 per session.
