Women across Westchester are encouraged to put on their tennis whites and come to the Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale on July 20 to take part in a special fundraiser that will benefit the Gilda's Club of Westchester.
Two Edgemont women and a Scarsdale resident are co-chairing what they hope will become an annual event: a tennis tournament and luncheon to benefit the Westchester chapter of Gilda's Club.
The local free cancer support community is based in White Plains and is for anyone affected by cancer (men, women, teens and children, along with their friends and family).
The first-ever Women's Tennis Classic is co-chaired by Gerri Sommers, Edgemont, Cindy Musoff, Edgemont and Margot Milberg, Scarsdale. Wendy Kleinman of Scarsdale, who organized a Mah-jongg benefit for Gilda's Club this spring, is on the event committee.
According to its mission statement, the innovative program is an essential complement to medical care, providing networking and support groups, workshops, education and social activities.
"Gilda's Club is underutilized and the more that word gets out there, the better this amazing place will be," said Amy Frelick, a board member from Larchmont. "It is such a fabulous place and so impressive. Unfortunately, people have misconceived notions about who it's for and what it's for and what great support it is for anyone touched by cancer."
For the past decade, Gilda's Club has hosted a golf tournament in the fall to raise money, but last year, organizers expanded their efforts to include tennis.
"For the past 10 years we have had a golf invitational that has been attended predominantly by corporate and local business people in Westchester and Fairfield," explained Stephanie Falk, director of special events for Gilda's Club Westchester. "We decided that we would try to reach more women because a lot of women wanted to support Gilda's Club and don't play golf, so we decided to try our hand at tennis."
The response was good, so they decided to move the tennis event to the summer and hold the first-ever Round Robin tennis event and luncheon.
"The tennis is open to anyone in the tri-state area or anyone who wants to come. We have more than 30 women registered already and room for more," Falk said. "The tennis pro from Sunningdale will switch up the group based on levels, and you get to meet a lot of people, so it's a very social occasion. We tally the scores at the end and tennis-related prizes will be awarded to the top players."
There will also be a luncheon for anyone who is interested in helping to support the cause, but doesn't have time for the tournament or doesn't not play tennis.
"We will have a wonderful speaker, the 92-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, with a presentation entitled, 'Nothing is Impossible,'" Falk said. "...I think a lot of these women—moms and working moms multitasking—will be encouraged and inspired by [it]."
There will also be a raffle with some great items to benefit the Gilda's Club chapter.
Among the prizes of the raffle are gift certificates to Larchmont jewelry store Peridot Fine Jewelry, facials and make overs from newcomer Najia's Esthetic Skin & Laser Center in Mamaroneck, passes to the New York Botanical Garden and a glass bowl and picture frame from Larchmont's own Wendy Gee.
"It is critical for us to do fundraisers throughout the year to keep providing these wonderful programs to our members," said Falk. "Everything is free of charge—the programs, services, counseling—and we would love to get more people finding out about us."
Registration for tennis starts at 9 a.m. and the luncheon starts at noon. For more information, click here, or call 914-644-8844, ext. 107.
