FOURTH ANNUAL FORGIRLSAKE TENNIS TOURNAMENT SET FOR SEPT. 24

Fundraiser Will Help Girls in Uganda Continue Their Education

For the fourth consecutive year, a Newton-based charity that promotes education for girls, invites the Greater Boston tennis community to register for the Forgirlsake Women’s Doubles Tennis Open (FGSO).  The tournament will take place Newton North High School on Sept. 24, with a rain date ofSept. 25.  Two sessions are available at 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.  The FGSO offers fast, competitive play (3.0 – 4.0) in a supportive environment and players can sign up alone or with a partner.  The fee is a minimum $75.00 donation per player, per session.  An added registration benefit this year is “Not Your Mother’s Warm-up,” a pre-game session with professionals.  To participate, visit www.forgirlsake.org/tennis.

Held for the first time in 2013, the FGSO is the signature fundraising event for Forgirlsake (FGS). Celebrating its 10^th anniversary, FGS focuses on keeping teenaged girls in school in developing countries where they are often kept at home for domestic duties. By doing so, FGS enables them to reach leadership positions and increase their earning power.  For the second year in a row, FGS is working on the Second Chance Education Project, created by the Pathways Development Initiative, an organization based in Uganda.  The group is dedicated to helping girls build sustainable livelihoods by getting them back to school when they have dropped out, due to lack of funds, pregnancy or other circumstances. Money raised from the tournament helps pay for a range of items including books, computers, scholarships and building materials.  The FGSO is made possible by Newton North High School, Newton Tennis and local business sponsors. The event is spearheaded by FGS co-founder and local resident, Stephanie Zelman. Other organizers are Sami O’Reilly, Deb Cronin, Noura Guermazi, Emilie Kendall and Lisa Rinkus, also of Newton.

FGS was founded in 2006 and brings women of all ages together to support girls’ education and have a measurable impact on their lives and communities around the world.  The group was formed by former students of the Trafalgar School for Girls, in Montreal, after attending a class reunion in 2005.  For the past 10 years, FGS has empowered hundreds of young women in developing countries on a shoestring budget. The group is staffed entirely by volunteers, and proceeds support its mission to build thriving communities and a more equitable society.

For more information, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit: http://www.forgirlsake.org/donate, call 617-630-5200 or email steph@forgirlsake.org.

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