Bethel China Foundation And China Open Presented ATP Aces For Charity Grant

© China OpenThe Bethel China Foundation and China Open pose with their ATP ACES For Charity cheque in Beijing Saturday.

The Bethel China Foundation and China Open were presented with a cheque as part of the inaugural ATP ACES For Charity programme in Beijing Saturday prior to the semi-final match between Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Brad Drewett, the ATP Executive Officer for ATP International, presented the grant to Bethel China Foundation founder Guillaume Gauvain and eleven visually impaired orphans, as well as China Open Tournament directors Charles Hsiung and Alfred Zhang. "The ATP Aces for Charity Program is about giving donations to special charities around the world," said Drewett. "It was an honour to be able to present a donation during the China Open to a wonderful group of young, underprivileged children from the Bethel China Foundation.  It was also very touching for everyone to hear them sing a beautiful song for the centre court audience."

The Bethel China Foundation provides education and care programs for blind orphans in the Beijing area. So far, they have secured foster homes and schooling for over 70 children in Beijing and run a successful training program for orphanages all over China to assist with the needs of visually impaired youth. Two of the organisation's key initiatives include “The Love Is Blind Project”, supporting 60 blind orphans on its 17-acre project site just south of Beijing, and “Project 555”, offering training to other orphanages throughout China to better care for this community.

Previously this week, three of the 12 grants awarded for 2011 from the ATP ACES For Charity programme were presented at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. The recipients were the Rafa Nadal Foundation, the David Nalbandian Foundation, and the East Japan Earthquake Charity Fund.

Earlier this year, the ATP – governing organisation of the men’s professional tennis circuit - established a new grant program, The ATP ACES For Charity program, to recognise ATP players and tournaments for their outstanding contributions to charitable causes around the world. It is a global initiative aimed at giving back to communities where ATP World Tour events are played, as well as recognising and supporting tournament and player charitable initiatives.

The ATP has announced the 12 inaugural recipients of its ATP ACES For Charity grant programme. Grants of 10,000 US Dollar/Euros each will be awarded by the ATP on an annual basis to charitable causes nominated by ATP World Tour players and tournaments.

See a full list of 2011 ATP ACES For Charity grants recipients:

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