Following a successful debut event last year, the Business Clubs America (BCA) “” San Diego will follow with the second annual Wheelchair Tennis & Luau at Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma on June 20-21.
“Last year, everyone predicted we would be lucky to have 20 participants and we ended up with 72,” said Jim Bernet, president of BCA “” San Diego. “This year, we are hoping for at least 100 people.”
The event raises money for Sharp Rehabilitation Services, which helps people who have suffered spinal cord and brain injuries, trauma, strokes and other debilitating conditions. In San Diego, there are an estimated half-million mobility-challenged and/or disabled citizens.
As might be expected, expenses to help those people can be high.
“Our goal for last year was to raise $50,000 and we netted $71,000,” said Bernet. “This year, we plan to raise $100,000. In addition, the BCA has agreed to match our total, dollar for dollar. So we could end up with $200,000.”
BCA is a franchise operation across the country.
Two years ago when Bernet and others started talking about putting together some type of charity event, he had two very simple criteria.
“First of all, on weekends I do not want to leave my kids,” he said. “Second, I do not want to have to wear a tuxedo.”
He said golf was quickly eliminated as a possible charity event because of its challenges in being “family friendly.” Similarly, he said there would be no huge fundraiser dinner and dance gala at a plush hotel.
He knew what he wanted.
“Our goal was to have something where the people who benefit from the proceeds of the event could also participate in it,” he said. “We did not want to have an event where someone sits in a corner in a wheelchair with a news camera in their face.”
Dana Mathewson, who will be a senior at Bishop’s School in La Jolla, was a participant in the event last year.
“It was very well-organized,” she said. “Everyone out there knew they were there to have a good time and benefit someone more than themselves. Also, the food at the luau was amazing.”
Mathewson will be competing just prior to the event in Italy for the U.S. in the World Team Cup, which is the wheelchair tennis version of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup. So she said the BCA “” San Diego tournament will be a nice way spend a few days after returning from overseas.
“At the bigger tournaments there is so much pressure, which tends to make people antisocial as they are trying to concentrate on competing well,” she said. “The atmosphere at this event is so much fun and definitely such a positive experience. I am excited to be participating again.”
For Bernet, in addition to the experiences like those of Mathewson, he believes in having something in which both BCA members and their children can be involved in ” from the planning stage to the event itself and its follow-up.
“Last year, my children were ball kids for the tennis matches,” Bernet said. “It meant so much to me to have them involved. Every BCA member who participates is doing so on a volunteer basis. Nobody at any level is paid for their efforts in putting together this event.”
There is no cost to participants. According to Bernet, the last thing organizers want is for there to be a financial hardship on those who want to participate ” the same people the event is trying to help.
“There is such a high unemployment rate for disabled people,” Bernet said. “Therefore, it does not cost an athlete a cent to participate. There are no entry fees and we pay for their hotel room and travel expenses through our sponsorships. We also offer prize money.”
Participants will be coming from all over the United States, including New York, Florida, Missouri and other locations.
As a result of all these efforts, the Guinness Book of World Records will have officials onsite Friday, June 20 to sanction the event as the largest wheelchair tennis tournament in the world.
Like almost any other successful person in business, Bernet is already thinking about next year and beyond to make the event even bigger and better.
This includes having BCA groups in other cities host similar efforts. Yet, he still keeps a focus on this year and what is needed to make it successful.
“At this point, we need two things,” he said. “Money and athletes. Interested people can make donations online and even sponsor a specific athlete. They can also volunteer at the event as they do not have to be a BCA member.”
The event has been expanded from one day to two days. This year’s event begins Friday, June 20 at 11 a.m. with both the tournament and clinics. It concludes around 9 p.m. Saturday, June 21.
The championship match is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday with the luau beginning around 6 p.m. at the Barnes Tennis Center, 4490 W. Point Loma Blvd.
Friday’s tennis activities and the championship match on Saturday are all open to the public and free of charge. Single tickets for the luau begin at $300.
For more information, call (858) 775-4422, or visit www.wheelchairtennisand-luau.com.