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Last Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of June at La Terraza Tennis Club in Casa de Campo, the first annual GJB Tennis Invitational was played in benefit of the La Romana Ball Boys Foundation, a non-profit institution whose mission is to help the children and young people of La Romana through sport and recreation.
The GJB Tennis Tournament was created by Gloria Bonell with the idea to raise funds for La Romana Ball Boys Foundation to enable them to purchase school supplies, as well as take care of the oral health of the ball boys working at the La Terraza Tennis Club. Funds were raised thanks to the generosity of local businesses and personal contributions.
The friendly 2-day competition was celebrated with much enthusiasm at the La Terraza Tennis Club in Casa de Campo and Mrs. Bonell was impressed with the quality and harmony of the matches, “The event was a major success in terms of quality of play, and motivating the boys to compete and be rewarded,” said Gloria Bonell who is the wife of Peter Bonell the Chief Marketing Officer at Casa de Campo.
This particular event had special meaning because the initiative comes from a family that believes in the importance of giving opportunities to these small stars to showcase their talents and highlight their skills in a healthy competition.
“I play every day with my husband and my 2 ball boys, Alfredo and Andy. We are both keenly aware of the personal issues regarding them and their families”, Gloria Bonell told Casa de Campo Living when asked what inspired her to organize the event. She added that the experience made her feel “immensely humble and proud” and that all the thanks she needed from the young ball boys was “the look of joy in their eyes.”
This Tennis Invitational was at the La Terraza Tennis Club and headed by Emilio Vasquez, Casa de Campo Tennis Director. The event was sponsored by Tropical Tours, Prestige, The Zimmerman Agency, G&D Promociones, Impresos Castro, Productos Higueral, Coca Cola, Pala Pizza, Arcoiris, McDaniel Family Foundation and the Rodriguez-Caceres Family.
The following collection of photos were taken at the La Terraza tennis club in Casa de Campo during the 1st annual GJB Tennis Invitational:
GJB Tennis Invitational – Results
Players Singles Category
Winner: Pedro Nolasco
Runner-up: Joan Abreu
Ball Boys Singles CategoryWinner: Alfredo Johnson
Runner-up: Rayner Mejía
Ball Boys Doubles CategoryWinner: Alfredo Johnson & Gloria Bonell
Runner-up: Peter Bonell & Andy Mercedes