Latest news with #PalisadesTennisClub
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Palisades Tennis Club member Cynthia Neiman becomes first female USTA Southern California president
Cynthia Neiman was recently elected as the board president of the Southern California section of the United States Tennis Assn. She became the first woman in the section's 138-year history to hold that spot. And she didn't know it until after the vote occurred. 'On the one hand, it's a long time coming,' Neiman said. 'But on the other hand, I just feel fortunate to be in a position to help in any way I can.' Neiman, a member at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, said tennis is a big part of her life. She walked onto the team at UCLA in the 1980s and remains capable of competing at a high level, recently playing on a top senior women's doubles 4.5-level team. 'We made it to third in the country, so we had a pretty good run,' Neiman said, adding that the Tennis Channel is constantly on the television in her Long Beach home. Neiman is now a history maker in her new role. She comes to it from a marketing background, formerly working at companies like Mattel and Ikea, among others. Neiman is currently the chief experience officer for Rady Children's Health, created when Children's Hospital of Orange County merged with Rady Children's Hospital San Diego in January. She joined the SCTA board in 2020. She said what drew her in was her experience on the board of the nonprofit Pete Brown Junior Tennis Program for under-served youth, run by her good friend Marty Woods in South Central Los Angeles. 'I really saw all of the good that tennis does, it's not just about the pros and elite players,' Neiman said. 'I'm so proud of what [USTA Southern California executive director Trevor Kronemann] and his staff do to really grow the game, promote the game. It's been incredibly rewarding. I view my role as supporting Trevor and the staff and removing roadblocks, and mirroring what the priorities are of USTA national. That really comes down to courts, coaches and programming.' Kronemann said he thinks the world of Neiman, who is also a two-time breast cancer survivor, and that they are on the same page. 'She's a people person, and she's a hard worker,' Kronemann said. 'She's had an incredible career … Tennis needs these stories to be told. It's not that Cynthia Neiman has won four Grand Slams or 18 Grand Slams. It's that Cynthia Neiman has built a life through tennis, and through the community. These are the stories that I think are great stories.' The USTA has an initiative called '35 by '35,' designed to create 35 million tennis players in the United States over the next 10 years. Kronemann said there are about 25 million tennis players nationwide, and roughly 10% of them play in Southern California. 'What's really interesting is that there's another 25 million who have identified themselves as wanting to play tennis, but they've never played,' Neiman said. 'How do we attract those folks? Something that certainly I think about now is, how do we just bring in these people who have never picked up a racket and make it easy and fun for them?' She said the Southern California chapter recently received a $70,000 grant from the national organization for a program called 'Taking it to the Streets.' The idea is to introduce the sport to people in an informal way. 'We're wrapping a van and going to show up in unexpected places, whether it's parking lots or malls or other venues, just putting up a court with a net and have rackets and balls for people to hit around a little bit,' Neiman said. She added that she feels fortunate to have other stellar officers recently elected to the executive board, including Laguna Beach resident and former UC Irvine standout Neel Grover, a business executive who is currently the Intercollegiate Tennis Assn. chairman and has won 27 USTA National gold balls.
Los Angeles Times
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
The Crowd: Emerson Classic nets more than $36K for SOY
Tennis has experienced a resurgence in popularity over recent years, with tournaments drawing big crowds around the globe. In Newport Beach over Memorial Weekend, one such smashing event welcomed 507 players on local courts for the inaugural Roy Emerson Tennis Classic benefiting SOY (Save Our Youth), a most worthy local nonprofit. Inspired by the philanthropy and community spirit of Britt Meyer in partnership with Australian tennis legend Roy Emerson (a 28-time Grand Slam Champion), the three-day, non-stop event was based at home court Palisades Tennis Club with generous support from club owners Eric and Joanie Davidson. In addition, matches were held at Costa Mesa Tennis Center, Mesa Verde Country Club and Newport Beach Tennis Club. On Monday, June 2, it all came together in final play. Organizers were tournament director Chris Garber, tournament director of tennis Drew Arbiter and Cameron Ball, who led the tournament committee that included Terri DeLong, Lori Ratzlaff, Samantha Wang, Adrienne Catrine, Lisa Stone, Ann Chatillon and other volunteers. 'My husband Bob and I are honored and delighted to support this very special community event that brings together so many of our friends and neighbors delivering the joy that tennis competition creates for all players on the courts,' stated presenting sponsor Britt Meyer. 'Best of all, having Roy and Joy Emerson and their daughter Heidi fronting the excitement added a significant touch of tennis history and legend to the inaugural tournament. When all was done and winners were lauded, the real winner was SOY and all the local families and children the organization serves in the community.' The proceeds, $36,200, were donated to SOY, which lends assistance to low-income, at-risk youth who are Newport-Mesa Unified School District students. SOY was founded in the early 1990s by concerned westside Costa Mesa parents who banded together as Madres de Costa Mesa, determined to guide their kids into higher education and responsible futures. According to SOY's mission statement, the nonprofit offers 'a safe and welcoming space for teens to find hope, to nourish a sense of self and an ability to grow and to develop interests and skills to become productive members of society.' Addressing the crowd at the closing party and echoing that sentiment was SOY Executive Director Mary Cappellini, who shared the microphone with the staff to congratulate all of the tournament's champions. The champions collected a total of $15,0000 in prize money donated by Eric and Joanie Davidson of Palisades Tennis Club. Tremendous credit for the success belongs to Britt and Bob Meyer and their company Meyer Natural Foods. Also front and center for the tournament and for SOY were Gene Rhodes, Pamela and John Blom, and Eric and Joanie Davidson. Others supporting the tournament were Ken Brodhagen, Gaby Lessard and Ziad Dahdul. As the trophies were awarded to the players during the closing party, the Madres de Costa Mesa praised the community for its generosity, saying tennis competition is a metaphor for hard work, dedication and perseverance in life leading to success. 'That's what the tournament is all about, making a difference in this community for others. We'll be back next year continuing to make that difference,' said Britt Meyer.
