UA RISE Center Tennis Fundraiser

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama RISE Center will host women’s and mixed doubles tennis tournaments April 13 and 15 to aid in fundraising efforts to help its students reach their full potential.

The women’s doubles tennis tournament will be April 13 and the mixed doubles tournament will be April 15. Both tournaments will take place at the PARA Tuscaloosa Tennis Center. The cost per team is $150.

“RISE is always looking for new ways to meet the needs of families in our community who would benefit from the therapy services we offer,” said Andi Gillen, director of the UA RISE Center. “The number of families seeking services continues to increase beyond our program’s current capacity.

“We believe it is our responsibility to expand the programs we offer. The funds raised at these events will allow us to maintain our high-quality early intervention and preschool program and creatively seek ways to reach more families. There are many more families needing our support and assistance following the pandemic and we want to give all children the opportunity to meet their maximum potential.”

The cost per child to attend RISE five days a week has exceeded $20,000. While RISE receives funding from UA, an endowment and has contracts with local school systems, fundraisers like the golf and tennis tournaments are crucial to the school’s success. There are eight RISE programs across the country and the UA RISE Center is the only program that does not charge tuition to families with children who have special needs. All children needing therapy services continue to attend RISE Center at no cost.

Fundraising support has been instrumental in the program’s longevity and its ability to provide much needed early intervention services to children with special needs in the Tuscaloosa area.

For more information about the tournaments and to register, call RISE at 205-348-7931 or visit the UA RISE Center website.