2001 Marathon Press Release<br><br>MaliVai
Washington Kids Foundation Announces<br>4th Annual Verizon
Wireless 24-Hour Tennis Marathon<br><br>Mal Offers
Incentives for Die-hards to Play Full 24
Hours<br><br>JACKSONVILLE, Florida — The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation
announced plans for its fourth annual Verizon Wireless
(formerly PrimeCo) 24-Hour Tennis Marathon to be held 5
p.m. Friday, March 9 through 5 p.m. Saturday, March
10, 2001 at the UNF Tennis Complex off St. John’s
Bluff Road .<br><br>The Marathon is a fundraiser for
the Foundation where entrants raise pledges for
tennis play. Last year’s Marathon drew close to 200
entrants and over the past three years more than $60,000
has been raised for Foundation programs.<br><br>With
a minimum suggested pledge of $25, the event
encourages anyone to sign-up to play tennis for an hour,
regardless or age of skill level. Play is doubles format and
includes men’s, women’s, mixed & juniors. There are
special team challenges including Tennis Team, Junior
Teams, High School Teams, Collegiate & Corporate
Challenges. Prizes are awarded based on pledges raised,
including team and individual prizes. <br><br><br>In what
has become a Marathon tradition, MaliVai Washington
has extended a challenge for those tennis enthusiasts
willing to play the full 24 hours. He will match the
pledges of anyone who accepts the challenge with a
personal contribution. Last year, 14 tennis enthusiasts
played the entire 24 hour.<br><br>In addition to hourly
tennis matches, there will be activities for all ages
including those who know nothing about tennis! Activities
will include clinics (including Jacksonville’s largest
tennis clinic for non-players through advanced players
at 11am on Saturday sponsored by the First Coast
Tennis Foundation) , exhibition matches (with MaliVai
Washington, the UNF Tennis Teams, Wheelchair Tennis players)
and more. The popular Media King of the Court
Challenge will again take place on Saturday afternoon at
1pm. Admission is free. For more information about the
Verizon Wireless 24-Hour Tennis Marathon, please call
(904) 247-1939.<br><br><br>Monies raised from the
marathon support the ongoing efforts of the MaliVai
Washington Kids Foundation to provide tennis and educational
opportunities for youth that would otherwise not be exposed to
the sport. Established by retired ATP tennis player
MaliVai Washington in 1994, the MaliVai Washington Kids
Foundation offers year-round tennis and educational programs
implemented in conjunction with many youth organizations and
independently throughout Jacksonville. The Foundation has
reached more than 7,500 youth since beginning programs in
1997.<br><br>Since the event’s inception four years ago, PrimeCo
Personal Communications has been the proud title sponsor
of the 24-Hour Tennis Marathon. PrimeCo, which is
owned by AirTouch Communications and Bell Atlantic, is
now known as Verizon Wireless and provides digital
wireless service to more than 30 major cities in Alabama,
Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia and
Wisconsin.<br><br>For More Information: Terri Florio, (904) 247-1939 or
Kristy Myers, (904) 710-1556