Netchex is excited and proud to announce our primary sponsorship of the Fostering Angels Holiday Classic Tennis Tournament, a wonderful event that combines Netchex’s passions for helping local youths and the spirit of competition.
The 2nd annual tennis tournament will be the weekend of December 6, drawing hundreds of competitors and spectators to help benefit the Fostering Angels charity. Netchex’s participation continues a valuable partnership that is dear to our team’s heart.
Fostering Angels is an amazing local non-profit geared toward helping area youths in foster care learn acceptance, commitment and fitness through sports, and other extracurricular activities such as music, drama and art.
“We pride ourselves in dedicating resources that aid in the youth of our community, and Fostering Angels is at the top of this list,” said Netchex CEO Will Boudreaux. “Jen Thompson and her team aim to support the hundreds of foster children who do not have access to the activities most children have. That’s not only critical to the children, but also to the loving parents that care for these kids. We appreciate the work done in our community by Jen Thompson and Fostering Angels and are proud to provide our assistance.”
To help fund the cause, founder Jen Thompson dreamed up the Holiday Classic Tennis Tournament last year. In its first endeavor, Thompson said the event was a huge success, pulling in thousands of dollars to support the charity.
Netchex was proud to help with Thompson’s vision last year, and increased our support this year to become the tournament’s main sponsor. Thompson said Boudreaux didn’t hesitate when she approached him to join the cause.
“When I asked Will, his response was immediately, ‘Yes, definitely. How much?’ That was him verbatim. He was just automatically on board,” Thompson said. “Netchex is huge into supporting kids in the community, so this is the perfect fit with Fostering Angels.”
With a $5,000 purse for winners, there is sure to be some high-level competition all weekend. The tournament is expected to attract more than 300 participants, ranging from pro and college-level competitors to partners who just enjoy playing the sport. Throughout the packed weekend, there will also be delicious food and drinks from local restaurants to add to the festivities.
Another big draw is the silent auction, featuring dozens of items for bid. Up for grabs is signed sports memorabilia, spa packages, restaurant gift cards, boutique items and more – all just in time for the holidays. The silent auction is another great way that this charity helps support its cause.
“Fostering Angels is all about developing fitness and goals, so a tennis tournament just made sense,” Thompson said. “This event is 95 percent of our funding.”
Moving into its third year, Fostering Angels’ goal is to ensure that foster children are given every opportunity to mature into well-rounded individuals who will succeed for themselves and for society. Coordinating with a child’s social worker and foster parents, Fostering Angels matches the child with a program, covers applicable fees and provides the necessary uniforms and tools to succeed.
The organization developed as Thompson, herself a foster and adoptive parent, heard stories of children wanting to join teams and clubs, but not having the financial support from their foster parents.
Thompson said one of the young women Fostering Angels supports was having a difficult time feeling accepted, and had begun to cut herself.
“She’s now taking art lessons, and dance, and she’s been in etiquette classes,” Thompson said. “Before, she hadn’t even considered college, and now she’s taking tours. Her attitude and her outlook … she is just a completely different person. And we’ve only been in her life for eight months.”