Agassi's Vegas Charities
For Andre Agassi, a second generation Las Vegan,
Sin City represents the opportunity to fulfill your dreams,
something Agassi knows all about. He and wife Steffi Graf
just welcomed their second child last month.
Agassi says, "You just feel like the
roots grow deeper, they grow stronger and everyday is sort
of an opportunity to really take stock in what you've built
in your life."
But don't think that Agassi is content being
firmly planted. He has branched out, returning service and
starting up the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation. Agassi
says, "The foundation helps children that society has
written off the most, and it reveals and shows that if you
put the right mechanics in place, you can change these children's
lives."
Founded in 1994, the foundation has raised
more than $23 million to fund the Andre Agassi College Preparatory
Academy in Las Vegas. Most of the donations come from the
Annual Grand Slam for Children fundraiser, featuring Hollywood's
elite, like Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, and Sir Elton John.
And this year, the fundraiser meant a little
something extra for Agassi because of one special guest, Ty
Warner of the Beanie Baby fame. Warner matched the $6.3 million
raised at the fundraiser to bring the total to $12.6 million.
Agassi says, "I was blown away. I stopped the event in
the middle. Tears were coming down my face, I couldn't believe
it."
Whether it is work or play, this tennis
ace has found a match in Las Vegas.
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