
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHRIS NOTH, JANUARY JONES, SEAL AND CARSON KRESSLEY HEADLINE
CHRIS EVERT/RAYMOND JAMES PRO-CELEBRITY TENNIS CLASSIC
29th Annual Event is November 9-11, 2018
BOCA RATON, FL – Chris Evert Charities is excited to announce the star-studded lineup for the 2018 Chris Evert / Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic set for November 9 – 11. Celebrities set to play in the 29th Annual event include CHRIS NOTH, JANUARY JONES, SEAL, CARSON KRESSLEY, JON LOVITZ, DAVID COOK, TIMOTHY OLYPHANT, SHAWN HATOSY, CHRIS MCKENDRY, TANYA THICKE, KEVIN MCKIDD, AND JAMIE MCSHANE.
Details & Tickets“Mr. Big” Chris Noth makes his debut appearance at this year’s event. Noth is best known for setting hearts aflutter as the iconic “Mr. Big” on HBO’s groundbreaking series Sex and the City, which also launched two blockbuster movies. Chris rose to prominence as Detective Mike Logan on the original Law and Order and most recently starred in the CBS award winning drama The Good Wife.
January Jones is also making her debut at this year’s event. Jones is best known for her role as “Betty Draper” in AMC’s critically acclaimed Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award- winning series, Mad Men. She also starred on the big screen as superhero, Emma Frost in X-Men First Class and most recently starred as ‘Melissa’ in FOX’s comedy series, The Last Man on Earth.
Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Seal returns to the courts. London-born multi-platinum singer-songwriter Seal is most known for his award-winning hit songs “Crazy” and “Kiss from a Rose.”
Carson Kressley returns to the event bringing his extraordinary style and humor to center court. After beginning his career as an independent stylist, Carson Kressley went on to win a primetime Emmy during a five-year run as the fashion savant on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He competed in the 13th season of Dancing With the Stars and last year competed in Celebrity Apprentice along with another celebrity supporter, Jon Lovitz.
Returning to the event include longtime participants and fan favorites comedian Jon Lovitz (Saturday Night Live), and American Idol winner David Cook who is currently starring on Broadway in Kinky Boots. Additional celebrities announced include actor Timothy Olyphant (Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet) Shawn Hatosy (TNT’s Animal Kingdom), Tate Donovan (Amazon’s The Man in The High Castle) and Jamie McShane (Netflix’s Bloodline).
The Pro-Celebrity event pairs celebrities and tennis pros for two days of tennis at the Delray Beach Tennis Center (November 10 & 11). The weekend also includes the dazzling Saturday evening Gala which begins with red carpet celebrity appearances followed by dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions and soon-to-be announced entertainment at the Boca Raton Resort and Club.The event kicks off on Friday (November 9) at the Boca Raton Resort and Club with an exclusive morning Pro-Am and evening cocktail party.
The first set of tennis pros who are confirmed to play alongside Evert include longtime friend and fellow International Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova and former French Open doubles champion Luke Jensen.
Evert’s 2017 event raised $800,000 for charity. The monies raised are distributed to programs funded through the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the Drug Abuse Foundation of Palm Beach Country.
Sponsors of the Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic include title sponsor Raymond James and platinum sponsors Boca Raton Resort and Club, Carls Patio, City of Delray Beach, Kool 105.5, ISG Graphics, JM Lexus, Merle Wood & Associates, News Radio 1290 WJNO, Printzilla, Real Radio 94.3, Rolex, Ruth’s Chris Steak House Boca Raton, Ultimate Software and Wild 95.5. Gold sponsors include Clive Daniel, Travelhost of Palm Beach and Wyndham hotels (Boca Raton and Deerfield).
Tickets for this year’s event are now on sale and range in price from $20 to $900. Take advantage of an early bird special and get 20% off GA and reserved seats now through August 31. Purchase tickets online at www.chrisevert.org/tickets or call 561-394-2400.
About Chris Evert Charities:
Since 1989, Chris Evert Charities has raised more than $24 million in an ongoing campaign to provide a bright future for Florida’s most at-risk children. With the help of loyal and generous sponsors, participating celebrities, legions of volunteers and a dedicated staff, Chris Evert continues to raise monies to fund programs through the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida. This multi-day event features a day of Tennis with Chrissie & Friends at the Pro-Am, back-to-back days of Pro-Celebrity Tennis and the annual Gala, an elegant evening of entertainment, dining and dancing at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. The event is one of South Florida’s longest-running charity events hosted by a former professional athlete. For more information, visit www.chrisevert.org.
Schedule
DAY 1
Friday, November 09
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB
TENNIS & LUNCH WITH CHRISSIE & FRIENDS
Exclusive for tennis lovers purchasing the ‘Tennis with Chrissie’ package, the unique opportunity to participate in the Pro-Am. Chrissie, celebrity participants, and tennis-pros will be on court to hit balls and give pointers. Afterwards, sit down for lunch at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. Limited spots available so sign-up early!
Read More / Get Tickets
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB
CLASSIC COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Patrons, Boxholders, and Sponsors get to mingle with Celebrities and Pros poolside at the beautiful Boca Raton Resort and Club with Chrissie and other Pro-Celebrity participants as they welcome their sponsor, patron, and boxholder guests. The Classic Cocktail Party is the perfect start to the weekend’s festivities. Relax while you enjoy music, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres in the temperate Florida climate. Bring your friends and make new ones!
DAY 2
Saturday, November 10
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
DELRAY BEACH TENNIS CENTER
PRO-CELEBRITY TENNIS
Join Chrissie at the Delray Beach Tennis Center for a fun-filled day of great tennis action. Each year, well-known personalities join Chrissie for fun, fast-paced, competitive matches to raise money to help at-risk families throughout Florida.
Past celebrity players have included: Former President George H.W. Bush, Matthew Perry, Chevy Chase, Regis Philbin, Jon Lovitz, Brooke Shields, Chuck Norris, Stone Phillips, John Oates, Olivia Newton-John, Don Johnson, Dr. Phil, Gavin Rossdale, Dan Brown, Scott Foley, and many, many more.
Sports celebrities that have joined in the fun include: Lindsay Davenport, Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, Jimmy Connors, Tommy Haas, Luke and Murphy Jensen, Keith Hernandez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Billie Jean King, Jim McMahon, Martina Navratilova, Jim Palmer, Don Shula, Pat Riley, Venus and Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, Monica Seles and the list goes on and on.
Stop by the Festival du Soleil, featuring amusements, games, face-painting and fun for kids of all ages. Children ten years and under receive a free general admission ticket when accompanied by a paid adult.
Read More / Get Tickets
6:00 PM
BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB
29TH ANNUAL PRO CELEBRITY GALA
Chrissie invites you to attend the 29th Annual Pro-Celebrity Gala. As well as showcasing great daytime entertainment, the Pro-Celebrity offers the elegant Annual Pro-Celebrity Gala with dinner, dancing, and exhilarating live and silent auctions. This year’s Gala will be at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
This evening provides the perfect chance to mix and mingle with celebrities and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and cuisine of the renowned Boca Raton Resort & Club.
We are excited to announce the entertainment for this year’s Gala Dinner Dance will be the legendary rock/jazz band Blood, Sweat & Tears!!! Blood, Sweat & Tears formed five decades ago when drummer/producer Bobby Colomby and friends assembled the first group to successfully blend rock and jazz into a genre-crossing sound and style. So successfully in fact, that the band’s second album, Blood, Sweat & Tears, topped the Billboard charts for many weeks and beat out the Beatles’ Abbey Road for the prestigious Album of the Year Grammy award. That album produced three major hit singles: “You Made Me So Very Happy,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “And When I Die.” Blood Sweat & Tears was the first All Star Band and has delivered since 1969 to today. The current line-up is sure to prove the critics right that Blood Sweat & Tears is one of the Greatest Touring bands out there today.
Have you purchased your Gala ticket yet? Tickets are $750 a person or $7,500 for a table of 10.
Past Gala entertainers included: The Pointer Sisters, Jimmy Buffet, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston, Jon Secada, Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Gloria Estefan and many more. Be assured that this event will be the highlight of the Florida social season.
With decor provided by Boca By Design, first-rate entertainment, excellent service and cuisine synonymous with the Boca Raton Resort & Club this evening is guaranteed to be memorable.
Rarely is there an opportunity to be involved with such exceptional event with an even greater goal – providing the children and families of Florida the chance to live their lives free from the ravages of drug abuse and neglect. Together, we are saving lives by creating futures.
Read More / Get TicketsDAY 3
Sunday, November 11
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
DELRAY BEACH TENNIS CENTER
PRO-CELEBRITY TENNIS
Join Chrissie at the Delray Beach Tennis Center for a fun-filled day of great tennis action. Each year, well-known personalities join Chrissie for fun, fast-paced, competitive matches to raise money to help at-risk families throughout Florida.
Past celebrity players have included: Former President George H.W. Bush, Matthew Perry, Chevy Chase, Regis Philbin, Jon Lovitz, Brooke Shields, Chuck Norris, Stone Phillips, John Oates, Olivia Newton-John, Don Johnson, Dr. Phil, Gavin Rossdale, Dan Brown, Scott Foley, and many, many more.
Sports celebrities that have joined in the fun include: Lindsay Davenport, Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, Jimmy Connors, Tommy Haas, Luke and Murphy Jensen, Keith Hernandez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Billie Jean King, Jim McMahon, Martina Navratilova, Jim Palmer, Don Shula, Pat Riley, Venus and Serena Williams, Andy Roddick, Monica Seles and the list goes on and on.
Stop by the Festival du Soleil, featuring amusements, games, face-painting and fun for kids of all ages. Children ten years and under receive a free general admission ticket when accompanied by a paid adult.
Read More / Get Tickets