Company Setting Up Star-Studded Matches to Benefit Local Charities
RICHMOND, Va., May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genworth Financial today
announced it is bringing tennis superstars Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Andy
Roddick to its hometown on December 2, 2005 for a special event that will
benefit Richmond -- the Genworth Children's Advantage Classic. Genworth will
donate all proceeds from the event to local area charities that support
disadvantaged youth.
Agassi is one of only five male players in history to win all four grand
slam tennis tournaments. Graf, a Tennis Hall of Fame inductee and winner of 22
grand slam titles, won the grand slam and Olympic gold in 1988. Roddick, with
a serve of more than 140 mph, is the world's fourth-ranked player and winner
of 17 singles titles. A fourth world-class player to be named in the coming
months will be joining this amazing threesome for unparalleled local tennis
excellence.
The event, which will be held at Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU)
Siegel Center, is expected to fill all 6,000 seats. Genworth officials say
they hope to raise approximately a half-million dollars for charities that
support disadvantaged youth and families. Tickets for the event will go on
sale July 5 and be available through the VCU box office and all TicketMaster
outlets.
Agassi and Graf were featured in the first television ad Genworth ran as a
new company in June 2004. The ad, called "Tennis Kid," won multiple awards
and has since been followed by another well-received spot featuring Agassi and
Graf, currently running on cable outlets across America.
"Andre and Steffi were eager to help us lend a hand to two deserving
charities that are doing great work in our community, specifically, the
William Byrd Community House and the Lobs & Lessons youth development
program," said Michael D. Fraizer, chairman, president and CEO of Genworth.
"Everyone knows Andre and Steffi are tremendous athletes -- but as great as
their accomplishments have been on the court, their work with children in the
U.S. and around the world is just as impressive. Their values and positions
as role models are a huge part of why we're so proud to have them associated
with our company."
Giving back to the community has long been a hallmark of tennis' first
couple. To date, Agassi's own charitable foundation has raised more than $36
million to support underprivileged, abused and at-risk children in his
hometown of Las Vegas. Graf's own charity, The Children For Tomorrow
Foundation, is focused on helping children and their families who are victims
of war, persecution or organized crime.
"Playing in the Genworth Financial Children's Advantage Classic will be a
joy for me, because it combines two of my great loves -- tennis and children,"
said Graf. "We appreciate opportunities like this one to help young people."
"Steffi and I look forward to visiting Richmond and joining with our
friends at Genworth to support two worthy charities," said Agassi, who has won
more than 75 percent of his matches over a career that spans nearly 20 years.
"We always take great pleasure in working with organizations that improve the
lives of children. With Andy in town to join us, it should be a great event
and we hope the community will come out to strongly support it."
More details about the Genworth Financial Children's Advantage Classic
will be released during the summer months.
About Genworth Financial
Genworth's work in the community includes a strong focus on the education
of our youth, care for the elderly, and providing daily living assistance for
those in need. The Genworth Children's Advantage program is one of the ways
the company, through its different partnerships, benefits youth.
Genworth (NYSE: GNW) is a leading insurance holding company, serving the
lifestyle protection, retirement income, investment and mortgage insurance
needs of more than 15 million customers, and has operations in 22 countries,
including the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K. and more than a dozen other
European countries. For more information, visit http://www.genworth.com.
SOURCE Genworth Financial
CONTACT: Mike Kachel of Genworth Financial, +1-804-662-2534,
mike.kachel@genworth.com
