The USTA Foundation, Alec Baldwin, and More Kick Off the US Open With a Lively Fundraiser

Just before Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova kicked off the US Open (if you re out of the loop, yes, Williams won), a group of tennis enthusiasts, celebrities, and retired tennis legends gathered inside the President s Box at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The reason for the gathering—beyond watching Williams vs. Sharapova and later, Roger Federer vs. Sumit Nagal—was to celebrate 50 years of the United States Tennis Association s National Junior Tennis Learning organization. For half a decade, the non-profit, which was founded by tennis titans Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder, has been scrupulous in its mission to serve under-resourced youths. It s a tennis program that does far more than teach kids how to play tennis; through the sport, the NJTL engages in areas from academia to health and gala attendees would hear firsthand just how seminal the program has been in the development of the thousands of youths.

Hosting the event was Chris Evert, Alec Baldwin, and Katie Couric—the latter two would lead an auction as entertaining as an SNL segment—and in attendance were the likes of Vera Wang, Maxwell, Mike Tyson, and Tiki Barber. After a cocktail hour, men in jackets and women in cocktail attire populated the banquet room, taking their seats for the long night ahead. First up was a series of awards including one bestowed on Rod Laver (50 years after his second Grand Slam) and on this year s NJTL Foundation Honorees—four exemplary teens who have benefitted from NJTL programming. Accepting his award, Laver went on to say, "What I m thrilled about most is that tennis has been good to a lot of people, that s the one thing that’s been very meaningful for me...being here 50 years after my Grand Slam, on the 50th anniversary of the NJTL, it s a great feeling. "

Inside the pamphlets left at everyone s dinner seat were statistics touting the benefits of tennis on youth, things the NJTL is able to provide at little to no cost. It was a reminder for all the deep-pocketed partygoers to be as generous as ever. And if the remarks from USTA chairpeople like Chris Evert and Dan Faber didn t do the trick, there was Mr. Baldwin, who knew just how to empty out everyone s wallets come the auction-segment.

"I ve had four children in four and a half years," Baldwin announced, "is that a grand slam?" He continued with his one-liners, calling for rounds of tequila shots (the more liquored up, the more generous!), poking good fun at those who weren t as active with their auction paddles, and conducting the selling of tickets to a Luke Bryan concert in the most convincing of country accents. It was apparently successful; "I don t even know who Luke Bryan is," said an audience member, "but I ll take the tickets!"

In the end, $1.2 million was raised and that s just the start of it; online now is a Charity Buzz auction with items like tickets to Vera Wang s upcoming ready-to-wear show and a tour of our very own offices here at Vogue.

"All the funds raised go straight to our NJTL program," explained Y. David Scharf the co-chair of the development committee. President of the foundation Tom Chen added, "The USTA covers the administrative expenses of the foundation so funds raised are put to work!"

As guests left the dinner, the night was far from over; the tennis matches (the main draw for everyone else in the Arthur Ashe stadium) had not yet begun.