By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Jubilee Photography

Main Line tennis enthusiasts can look forward to a competitive spring ProAm for a great cause. Camphill Special School and Tennis Addiction Sports Club will host the Camphill ProAm Tennis Ball and Tennis Tournament on May 7th and 8th , respectively, benefiting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Camphill Special School. Camphill Special School is a community and school for children and youth ages four to twenty-one with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Tennis Ball will take place on Friday, May 7th at the historic Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown. Greg Ambrose, along with his wife Annie of Warwick Township, is one of the event chairs and a recent addition to the school’s board of directors. The Ambrose’s son Joey is a current Camphill student. “The live auction the night before is really fun because we actually auction off eight tennis teams, paired with a great trip as a prize. The ProAm is a great way to gain awareness for our important Transition Program because it fills a gap in students’ education. It was developed to be a bridge for students from that high school age-18 to 21-through to adult placement. So, the goal is to continue to teach life skills and have these children be as independent as possible, get them acquainted to community living on the farm. It’s been a very positive and successful part of Camphill,” explained Ambrose.

The Camphill ProAm Tennis Ball is the kick-off party for the school’s Sharing Life and Learning: A Campaign for Camphill Special School’s Transition Program. Beaver Farm is a fifty-six acre farm run by students and staff. It is home to the Transition Program where students, ages eighteen to twenty-one, learn skills to become contributing members of society while continuing their academic and therapeutic work. Robin Young, host of NPR’s Here and Now, will serve as emcee for the Tennis Ball for the second year. Guests will be treated to a fabulous dinner, dancing on the largest wooden dance floor this side of the Mississippi to the swinging sounds of Jump City Jazz Orchestra, live and silent auctions, and a performance by Camphill Special School students.

Camphill has launched a $3 million Capital Campaign to improve and grow the Transition Program at Beaver Farm so that more students might benefit from it. This includes the construction of a new student residence and an education and resource center. A portion of this year’s ProAm proceeds will benefit this exciting project.

Tennis Tournament founder Anthony DeCecco has recruited eight athletically talented mixed doubles ProAm tennis teams who will compete for the coveted title of ProAm Champions on Saturday, May 8, at DeCecco’s club Tennis Addiction in Exton. Local television personality Elizabeth “Bitsy” Jennings will serve as commentator for this high-energy sporting event.

Admission to both the Tennis Ball on May 7th and ProAm Tennis Tournament on May 8th is $125 each or $200 per couple. Raffle tickets for the chance to win a seven night Alaskan cruise, including airfare also are available at $50 each or three for $100. Contact Courtney Coffman at 610.469.9236 x132 or ccoffman@camphillspecialschool.org or visit the school’s website, www.camphillspecialschool.org, for more information, to reserve admission to the event or to purchase raffle tickets.