Australian tennis legends Mark Philippoussis, Wally Masur, and John Fitzgerald have helped raise $167,000 for local Canberra charities, The Fly Program and Raw Potential Canberra, as part of the P2 Invitational held on Thursday 14 March at the Canberra Tennis Centre.
Hosted by P2 Advisory and supported by Principal Sponsor Harvey Norman Commercial, the charity tennis tournament attracts corporate teams who have the opportunity to play with the tennis legends.
Fitzgerald and Masur have been regular supporters of the event, while it was Philippoussis’ first time supporting the event with the former world No.8 excited to be in Canberra
“The most important thing is focusing on the event and why we are here and the two great causes.
“We’ve got 32 teams which is a packed house which is fantastic. The facilities here are incredible, it’s the first time I’ve been here”.
P2 Advisory Managing Director Mark Peatey said it all started with a vision to host a corporate tennis event which has grown from raising $30,000 in the first year to in excess of $150,000 per year.
“We try to transform small Canberra charities and make them sustainable for the future, so we give them a major step up.
“We want them to launch a program that can transform their charity. Either a program that has longevity and sustainable, give them a step up and something that’s really important rather than meeting outcomes or normal expenses.”
Raw Potential Canberra provides support and assistance for young people that are often extremely isolated and disengaged from the general community. They are young people experiencing homelessness, drug use and mental health issues often stemming from abuse experienced as a child.
Paul Kane, Chair of Raw Potential Canberra says the money raised from the P2 Invitational will be transform the services they can offer to Canberra youth by putting an outreach vehicle on the road.
“With a van, they [outreach workers] will be able to go out to the kids because the van will be fully equipped with food, with clothes, and I hate to say it, sleeping bags, tents, internet, and provide a one stop service for the kids in a place where they feel comfortable.”
The Fly Program seeks to raise awareness and combat the impact of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide in the Australian adult male community.
Founder and CEO of The Fly Program, Matt Tripet says mental health is such an important issue in communities today and the funds raised will go towards funding and supporting men from the ACT and surrounding area, that would otherwise be unable to, attend an 8-week ‘Men in Flight’ program in 2019 and 2020.
“The reality is half the population at some point in their life will be impacted by mental health adversity directly or indirectly. So it’s not something that is isolated to a few individuals, it’s something very common in mainstream communities,” Tripet said.
Click here for further information on Raw Potential Canberra.
Click here for further information on The Fly Program.
The event has been transformational to Canberra charities including; Menslink (2018), Stella Bella Little Stars Foundation & AFFIRM (2017), Newborn Intensive Care Foundation & the Heart Foundation (2016), TADACT and Kulture Break (2015), The Cerebral Palsy Alliance – ACT (2014), The George Gregan Foundation (2013), Oasis Youth Support Network (2012) and Starlight Foundation (2011).
The success of this year’s event has enabled P² Advisory, through the Invitational, to raise over $1.185million since its inception in 2011.
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