Junior Orange Bowl Tennis Needs Your Help Celebrating 50th Anniversary

(CORAL GABLES, FL, JULY 2011) – Every December for the past 49 years, the world’s best 14 & under (U14) and 12 & under (U12) tennis players have gathered in South Florida for theannual Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship. The Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship has a rich history of attracting the most promising young tennis players from around the world and the 2011 Championship promises to be no different. In 2010, the prestigious junior tournament attracted over 1,250 entrant applications from 75 countries and 40 U.S. states. This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the Championship and the Junior Orange Bowl Committee (JOBC) is poised to make it a memorable one.

The tennis committee would like to improve the overall quality of the tournament and make the 50^th anniversary extra special. One of the major goals for this year’s tournament is to involve past winners and participants that have gone on to have successful professional tennis careers. By involving these athletes, the JOBC will continue to inspire future generations to strive for greatness.

Past participants of the Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship include Juan Martin Del Potro, who won the 2002 Boys 14 & under championship and is the 2009 US Open champion, as well as Justine Henin, who won the 1996 Girls 14 & under championship and is a seven-time Grand Slam winner. Other notable past participants are recent inductee to the Tennis Hall of Fame, Andre Agassi; Andy Roddick, Bernard Tomic, Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters, Monica Seles, Chris Evert, Jim Courier, and Mary Joe Fernandez. Mary Joe Fernandez has already pledged her support of the 50^th anniversary celebration.

The Junior Orange Bowl is soliciting the help of Florida’s tennis community in order to highlight the athletes that have moved on to great success. If you know a professional tennis player who participated in the Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship, the JOBC would greatly appreciate your help in reaching out to him or her. Please contact Tennis Director Jodi Steinbauer at 305-662-6072 or by email at tennis@jrorangebowl.com if you have any information that may be helpful.

The Junior Orange Bowl Festival is possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables, Miami Children’s Hospital, The Orange Bowl Committee, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and Board of County Commissioners. The JOBC, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that serves the community of South Florida and the Youth of the world by providing opportunities for wholesome, competitive and multicultural experiences. For more information on the Junior Orange Bowl Committee, please contact 305-662-1210 or visit our website at www.jrorangebowl.org.