Look To The Stars News: Andy Roddick

Stars Sign Books For Charity Auction

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Eyebrows of rare book and signature collectors will rise this fall when an extraordinary collection with a tender mission will be available for an online auction beginning November 9-24, 2009.

Dubbed The Little Auction That Could, the 70+ collection includes signatures from some of the most iconic figures of our time, including President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, JK Rowling and Tiger Woods.

Passionate about education and literacy, volunteer mom Karla Preissman wanted to foster a love of reading among children living at Jensen Beach, Florida-based Hibiscus Children’s Center who have suffered from abuse and neglect. First, she helped create the Reef Library within the shelter and filled it with hundreds of books and resources. But that wasn’t enough…she wanted to make sure that these resources would be replenished and the library maintained and supported by staff that would help make literacy a key component to the healing received at the foster care center.

She came up with an idea. Why not ask famous people what books inspired them as a child and ask them to simply sign their names in a copy that would be auctioned for the benefit of Hibiscus Children’s Center? What started off as a simple request has mushroomed into a wildly varied and fascinating glimpse of what some of the most famous people on the planet believed to be a motivating book from childhood. Other iconic figures, such as President Barack Obama, signed a book symbolic of his time in office—a first edition pop-up White House children’s book.

Author and poet Maya Angelou submitted three signed books, one coming from her personal library called Story of Phillis Wheatley detailing the life of a slave turned poet during the American Revolution. How do you place a value on a collectible item like that?

Other stars who have taken part include Hugh Hefner, Sean Connery, Arnold Palmer, Andy Roddick, Chris Evert, Katie Couric, Jay Leno, Jeff Probst, Bill Cosby, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lee Ann Womack, Tori Amos, Carrie Underwood, Donald Trump and many more.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based antiquarian book dealer and appraiser Robert Hittel believes, “Owning one or more books from this eclectic collection would be the cornerstone of anyone’s collection.”

For the complete listing of signed books and information about bidding, click here. To see the collection firsthand, visit the exhibition at the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Florida beginning November 6 through November 29, 2009.

Founded in 1985, Hibiscus Children’s Center is a non profit organization that addresses abuse and neglect issues throughout the Florida Treasure Coast. Programs include Foster Care, parental support, counseling for families in crisis and services to reunite children with their families, when appropriate. Click here for more info on this charity.

Andy Roddick To Play James Blake For Charity

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tennis player James Blake has announced that he will host a tennis exhibition match with Grand Slam champion Andy Roddick to raise for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in December.

All of the proceeds will benefit the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund, a charity named in memory of James Blake’s father, who died of cancer in 2004. Blake has raised more than $1.5 million for charity, and earlier this year was awarded a major humanitarian award for his charity work.

The event will also include an after party with entertainment, food and fashion show.

Tickets for the event are now available for $500, $250 and $150. The event will be held on December 1 at Pier 94 in New York City, and more info can be found here

Choose Elton John's Set List For Charity Concert

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Elton John is set to perform at Andy Roddick’s charity gala in November, and YOU can choose his set list.

A new charity auction is offering two tickets to The Andy Roddick Foundation gala at the Hilton Hotel in Austin, TX on November 30, 2009 at 6:30pm with seating at the head table with Andy Roddick and possibly Elton John. In addition, the winning bid will choose the set of songs Elton will sing at the gala. This amazing package also includes a two nights stay at the Austin Hilton Hotel.

Andy Roddick’s foundation is a non profit, nonsectarian organization. Simply put, it is their mission to raise funds and distribute them to institutions that care for children who have been abused, have catastrophic illnesses, and are at risk for neglect. Some of their recipients are Kids In Distress, A Safe Haven for Newborns, A Glimmer of Hope, Habitat for Humanity, KIPP Austin College Prep, Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center of South Florida, Sun-Sentinel Children’s Fund, Here’s Help, Settlement Home, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, Back to Basics Angel Fund, Tiger Fund, Deliver the Dream, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“Serving Children Today For Tomorrow” defines everything they do to help unprivileged children and their families by giving them a reason to smile during difficult times so they can regain their strength, mend their spirits and be healthy children and families. Their vision is about describing the cultural environment in which they imagine children to be cared for and raised; It is not a one, five, or ten year goal- it is a goal for all generations.

The auction closes October 22, and can be accessed here.

Andy Roddick To Give Taste Of Tennis

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:30:00 -0000

The world’s top tennis players and chefs are set to serve-up the US Open’s hottest pre-tournament action at the 10th Annual BNP PARIBAS TASTE OF TENNIS.

This year’s lineup includes tennis superstars Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Tommy Haas, Billie Jean King and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who will cook-up culinary aces alongside TV personality and celebrity chef Bethenny Frankel, Carla Hall and Ariane Duarte from Bravo’s “Top Chef,” and Gotham Bar and Grill’s Alfred Portale.

The star-studded charity event, produced by AYS Sports Marketing and benefiting the Food Bank For New York City, is set for Thursday, August 27th, 7-10pm at the W New York. ESPN personality Hannah Storm will serve as emcee for the evening. For more information and tickets call 877-282-7100 or visit www.bnpparibastasteoftennis.com.

One of summer’s most anticipated New York nighttime events, BNP PARIBAS TASTE OF TENNIS gives guests the chance to mingle with their favorite tennis stars and chefs while sampling an eclectic mix of specially-designed dishes that earn rave reviews each year.

This year’s BNP PARIBAS TASTE OF TENNIS benefits the FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY, which provides 68 million pounds of food annually to more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs — including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, low-income daycare centers, kids cafes and senior, youth, rehabilitation and outreach centers — throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The Food Bank helps provide 250,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers who otherwise would go hungry or not eat enough, who are largely comprised of women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor.

Will Ferrell And Jordin Sparks Join Up For Charity Tennis

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The United States Tennis Association has announced that Will Ferrell and multi-award winner and platinum-selling artist Jordin Sparks will team with former US Open champion Andy Roddick and additional superstar players for the 14th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.

The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families – including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics – will be hosted by television personalities Susie Castillo and Quddus. The festivities are set for Saturday, August 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. The tennis and music festival kicks off the 2009 US Open, which runs from August 31 – September 13.

From 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. kids and families can experience an exciting schedule of interactive tennis games, music and attractions taking place throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Returning to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day this year is SmashZone, a fan fest located in the National Tennis Center’s new indoor facility, which will run from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Then from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., a live tennis and music stadium show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Roddick, Ferrell and other top players and celebrities with musical performances by Sparks, Honor Society and Justin Bieber.

For the stadium show, tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (1-866-OPEN-TIX), usopen.org and at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 and loge tickets are $20. Kids 12-and-under with stadium show tickets will receive a free Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day hat from the USTA and Hess on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event of inclement weather, ticket holders can log on to usopen.org for the most up to date information.

“Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess is a terrific way to kick off the US Open each year,” said Pierce O’Neil, Chief Business Officer, USTA. “This year’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will again bring together some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment for a fun filled day for all ages. Additionally, this year’s event will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the National Junior Tennis and Learning network, a program that Arthur Ashe co-founded in an effort to bring the sport of tennis to economically diverse audiences throughout the country.”

Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has featured many of music’s biggest acts including the Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Ne-Yo, Cheyenne, The Cheetah Girls, Mario, Sean Kingston, Jesse McCartney, Bow Wow and Kat DeLuna.

Andy Roddick To Rock N' Racquet For Children

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tennis star Andy Roddick will be joined by Serena Williams, John Isner, and Caroline Wozniacki for a series of exhibition tennis matches to raise money for the Andy Roddick Foundation over the next few days.

The ICAP Rock-N-Racquets event will be held on December 12,13, and 14 and will be emceed by Wayne Bryan, father of top U.S. doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan, with musical performances by Chamberflow, Dennisha Duncan and DJ K-Dogg.

“A lot of tennis events tell you to be quiet,’’ said Roddick. “We tell you to not be quiet.”

This will be the fifth time the event is staged, with funds going to institutions that care for children who are neglected, abused, at risk or with catastrophic illnesses.

“If we can alter the course of someone’s life at an early stage we could give them a chance for the rest of it,” said Roddick. “I didn’t need anything tragic to happen to get me motivated to help.”

The three events will be held in three different states – December 12 will see matches held at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky; December 13 will see matches played at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina; and December 14’s games will be held at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee. Each evening will feature matches between Roddick and Isner, Williams and Wozniacki, and then mixed doubles events.

More information about the games can be found at www.rocknracquets.com, and tickets are available from Ticketmaster.

Stars Line Up For Andy Roddick Annual Charity Event

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Andy Roddick is once again giving fans a chance to return his 155 mph serve during his annual Andy Roddick Foundation charity event.

The weekend will kick off Saturday, December 6th, with an evening gala at the Polo Club Boca Raton and culminate in a charity tennis exhibition on Sunday, December 7th. This year Roddick and the Bryan Brothers will be joined by 2008 Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams.

Sunday’s festivities at the Boca Pointe Country Club will begin with a Pro-Am Doubles tournament, where nine lucky people will have the chance to play with some of the world’s top-ranked tennis players.

There will be events for children, and at 1 p.m. a Pro-Celebrity Tennis Exhibition will be held. Immediately following the exhibition, people will have the chance to return Roddick’s record-breaking 155 mph serve.

Tickets will not be sold at the gate. These events take place rain or shine.

To purchase tickets please contact the Andy Roddick Foundation at 561-620-9449 or visit www.andyroddick.com.

Team Elton John Wins Charity Tennis Event

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Team Elton John has won the 16th annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits event and raised over $400,000 for charity.

Held at the Kennesaw State University on Sunday, October 12, the event was organized by John and tennis legend Billie Jean King to raise cash for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund.

Sir Elton – a huge sports fan – kicked off the tennis action in a Battle of the Sexes match with Andy Roddick against Anna Kournikova and Martina Navratilova, winning easily 3-1.

Over $171,000 of the event’s total was raised in a live auction held before the games, with top items including two Wimbledon packages with Billie Jean King’s personal Center Court seats – which sold for $21,000 each – as well as Elton John’s autographed piano bench and a Super Bowl package. Roddick surprised other bidders by successfully acquiring a $17,000 artwork made by Martina Navratilova and Slovak artist Juraj Kralik, created when Navratilova hit a paint-soaked tennis balls onto a blank canvas.

“All of the money raised here today will stay here in the Atlanta market and in Georgia,” said Sir Elton during a press conference. “Forty six percent of AIDS cases are now being reported in the South. We are distinctly aware of the problems here and the South will continue to be a priority for the foundation.”

Andy Roddick To Hold Charity Weekend

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tennis champ Andy Roddick is to hold the 8th annual Andy Roddick Foundation Weekend in December.

To be held over two days – December 6 and 7 – at the Boca Pointe Country Club, the event will kick off with a special gala and cocktail reception, featuring a dinner and live auction. But it is Sunday’s events that will stir up the most interest with tennis fans: the day will begin with nine lucky people having the chance to play Pro-Am Doubles with some of the world’s top ranked tennis players. For younger fans, a special Andy Roddick Kid’s Zone will be set up, which will include sumo-wrestling, a bounce house, a rock climbing wall, tennis activities, music and more. At 1 pm will be the highlight of the day: a Pro-Celebrity Tennis Exhibition, featuring Roddick, and Men’s Doubles champs Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan.

Roddick established the Andy Roddick Foundation to raise funds for institutions that care for children who are neglected, abused, at risk or with catastrophic illnesses – and with both Elton John and Lance Armstrong on its Board of Directors, the foundation is well-known for its fundraising ability.

This year’s Andy Roddick Foundation Weekend will benefit a number of charities close to the tennis star’s heart, including Habitat For Humanity, Kids in Distress, Here’s Help, Deliver the Dream, and many more.

Courtside tickets to December 7’s exhibition match are $100 each; VIP Canopy tickets are $75 each; Reserved tickets are $50 each; and General Admission tickets are $25 each. Children, under age 12, are complimentary in the Reserved and General Admission sections only and receive a free gift when accompanied by a paid adult. To book tickets – which go on sale on August 4 – visit www.andyroddick.com.

Time's 100 - Tribute To Andre Agassi By Andy Roddick

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:26:29 -0000

Tennis star Andy Roddick wrote about Andre Agassi’s generous spirit for this year’s Time 100 list:

“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” —Arthur Ashe

“Arthur could well have been talking about Andre Agassi. We are all aware of his tennis accomplishments, the brilliance and flash of his career. It’s impossible to forget his epic U.S. Open victories, and also—though he might want us to forget—the mullet and acid-washed jeans. But the greater challenge for an athlete is to have a positive impact away from the cameras. I’ve been privileged to witness firsthand Andre, 38, do just that.

“When I was 17 years old, we were on a flight together. I was very nervous, but Andre was kind and encouraged me to ask him questions. When I asked about his biggest regret, I expected some answer related to our profession. Instead he said it was not starting his charitable foundation earlier. I was shocked that a person who has set such a high bar for athletic philanthropy still felt like he could do more. But that is Andre.

“There are most likely plenty of kids at Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a model K-12 charter school for disadvantaged children in Las Vegas, who have never watched a match of his. I promise you that Andre could not care less. He would rather be viewed as the man who gives them dreams and opportunities.”

Roddick is the No. 1 tennis player in the U.S., and has his own foundation, which raises funds for children in need.

Dacor Taste of Tennis

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:02:31 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

On August 23, 2007, at the W Hotel in New York, over 400 food, wine and tennis fans convened for the Dacor Taste of Tennis Food and Wine event to benefit the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Coinciding with the launch of the 2007 US Open, the event featured tennis stars such as Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas and Rafael Nadal as they traded in their rackets for aprons and joined forces with some of the world’s top chefs in cooking demonstrations. Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and more than a dozen top-ranked restaurants – Amalia, The Palm, Barbounia, Anthos, davidburke&donatella – all had chefs on hand to prepare mouthwatering dishes such as mini crab cakes with Aleppo mayonnaise and braised short ribs with sea salt and butterscotch-carrot puree.

Aquavit chef Marcus Samuelsson, whose new African restaurant opens in October, guided Roddick through the culinary process of making mango, raisin and jalapeño couscous with Moroccan-spiced lamb. Guest enjoyed stations and bars set up by Rums of Puerta Rico, Pilsner and Palm Bay Imports, while players participated in cooking demonstrations and mingled with guests in lounges spread throughout the hotel.

In addition to Andy Roddick, several other tennis professionals were in attendance. Nicolas Kiefer served up hamachi crudo, Tomas Berdych took a stab at sesame oil-spiked tuna, Mario Ancic drizzled oilive oil over steaks from the Strip House, Ashley Weinhold perfected Amalia chef Ivy Stark’s crab cakes and Rapahel Nadal simply enjoyed the food.

The event also showcased a silent auction with incredible sports memorabilia such as boxing gloves signed by Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, a signed poster of Dale Sayers and ice skates signed by the controversial Tonya Harding.

AYS, a company specializing in creating, managing and marketing unique sports and entertainment related events, hosted the event. President and event founder, Judi Lerner, said, “This event has grown each year and we’ve found the players and chefs really look forward to it.”

If you’d like to test your own culinary expertise, below are several of recipes that were prepared during the event.

Berbere-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Mango Couscous
Makes 6 to 8 servings

From chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit (made with help from Andy Roddick at Dacor Taste of Tennis)

1/2 cup olive oil
11 1/2 tablespoons coarsely chopped rosemary
1 large garlic clove, smashed
2 frenched racks of lamb (1 1/2 pounds each)
3 tablespoons Berbere or mild chili powder
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons beaten egg yolk
1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs
1 to 2 tablespoons dry red wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon dry red wine
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Combine the oil, rosemary and garlic in a large zipper-lock bag. Add the lamb, then seal the bag, forcing out the excess air. Marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours, turning the bag several times.

Preheat the oven to 400. Make the berbere paste: Stir together 1 tablespoon of the Berbere (or chili powder), the mustard, yolk and breadcrumbs in a small bowl, then add enough wine to make a paste. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Remove lamb from the marinade; discard the marinade. Heat a dry 12-inch heavy sauté pan over high heat until very hot. Reduce the heat to medium-high and brown the lamb, one rack at a time, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer, fat side up, to a large roasting pan.

Smear the Berbere paste on the fat side of the lamb. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the rack reads 125 for medium-rare, about 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.

While the lamb is roasting, toast the remaining two tablespoons Berbere in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock and wine and bring to a boil, then boil until reduced to the consistency of a sauce. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter bit by bit until incorporated. Serve with the lamb.

Mango Couscous
Makes 4 cups

1 cup couscous
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
1 mango, peeled, pitted and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1 cup)
1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1 ripe tomato, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup loosely packed small cilantro sprigs, chopped
1/4 cup loosely packed small parsley sprigs, chopped
Salt

Prepare the couscous according to the package directions. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the garlic, mango and jalapeño and sauté until the mango begins to color lightly. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, the couscous, raisins, tomato, lime juice, cilantro and parsley and toss to heat through. Season with salt. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Tennis Star Roddick Takes Time for Charity

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:33:21 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

If you think Andy Roddick spends all his free time on the tennis court, think again. He may be ranked 5th in the world on the court, but the tennis star is slowly inching his way to the number one spot in terms of giving back to the community.

Next month will see the third annual Andy Roddick Foundation Charity Gala, and Roddick will be joined by music icon Sir Elton John. Roddick will host the evening’s festivities, which will include an auction, dinner and an intimate concert with Elton John. Executive Chef Mark Dayanandan, winner of this year’s Diamond Chef Award, will be creating a special dinner for the Gala.

The event takes place on October 14th, 2007 at the Hilton Austin and will benefit several organizations in Austin and central Texas. For sponsorship opportunities and more information contact the Andy Roddick Foundation at (561) 620-9449 or check out www.arfoundation.org.

On October 3rd in San Antonio Texas, Roddick will be at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program. The event will begin at 3:30 PM at the tennis courts of Our Lady of the Lake University and Andy will take to the courts for roughly a half an hour.

The Andy Roddick Youth Tennis Program first launched at the Cleto Elementary School in early September. The Program was well received by over one hundred participants who have been attending weekly tennis clinics and speaker sessions focused on nutrition, academics, life values, social interactions and mentor relationships.

On April 26, 2007, Andy Roddick, and the Andy Roddick Foundation received the Arthur Ashe Prestigious Leadership Award from the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health for their dedication to improving the lives of children in need. And would you be surprised to learn that Roddick is the first male tennis player to receive this award?

Founded in 2000, the Andy Roddick Foundation has raised over six million dollars for various Southern Florida and Austin based children’s organizations. The nonprofit Andy Roddick Foundation strives to improve the quality of life and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all children based on the principles of respect for family, education and morality.

Look To The Stars News: Andy Roddick

Stars Sign Books For Charity Auction

Related past articles

Andy Roddick To Play James Blake For Charity

Related past articles

Choose Elton John's Set List For Charity Concert

Related past articles

Andy Roddick To Give Taste Of Tennis

Related past articles

Will Ferrell And Jordin Sparks Join Up For Charity Tennis

Related past articles

Andy Roddick To Rock N' Racquet For Children

Related past articles

Stars Line Up For Andy Roddick Annual Charity Event

Related past articles

Team Elton John Wins Charity Tennis Event

Related past articles

Andy Roddick To Hold Charity Weekend

Related past articles

Time's 100 - Tribute To Andre Agassi By Andy Roddick

Related past articles

Dacor Taste of Tennis

Related past articles

Tennis Star Roddick Takes Time for Charity

Related past articles