Andy Is Awarded The Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award

“That is what sport is all about� not making money, but making a difference in kids’ lives,” said Jerry Dunn, American’s Marathon Man, about a former award winner.

Andy was presented with the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award Tuesday night at an awards banquet co-hosted by the ATP and the WTA at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami, Florida. “The Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award was renamed in 1999 after the late, Hall of Fame tennis player, Arthur Ashe. This award goes to an individual who has displayed outstanding off-court contributions in his community and has enhanced the lives of others. Other former winners include Andre Agassi, in 1995 and 2001, Gustavo Kuerten, Patrick Rafter and Arthur Ashe himself,” noted ATP Director Greg Sharko.

Arthur Ashe was the first black man to win a U.S. Championship in 1968 and Wimbledon in 1975. He was also the first U.S. player to earn $100,000 in one year in 1970. He won the Davis Cup, which Andy is openly fond of playing, as both a player from 1968 to 1970 and the captain in 1981 and 1982. Arthur was also a writer who wrote a book on black sports history, Hard Road to Glory. He also received honorary doctorates from several universities, such as Dartmouth College and Princeton University. In 1992, however, Arthur announced that he was infected with the AIDS virus from a blood transfusion during 1983 heart surgery. On February 6, 1993, Arthur Ashe passed away.

In 1997, the new home for the U.S. Open was named Arthur Ashe Stadium, which is where Andy won his first Grand Slam in 2003. Arthur once said, “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”

Andy is helping make a lot of lives and this award recognizes his numerous contributions. Andy said, “I feel privileged and fortunate to be in position to help others in desperate situations, especially children. I am awed by the impact I can have on others lives and the personal rewards are beyond description.”

Congratulations Andy!