Dear Pine Tree Family,
For each of the past 38 summers, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic (PTATC) has been an August gathering you don’t want to miss. A mixed doubles tennis event that started in 1986, the tournament has now raised almost $7 million supporting groundbreaking outcomes by the doctors and researchers at Children’s Minnesota and over 200 hospitals around the world as they discover better care treatments, and some day, a cure for childhood cancer.
The PTATC’s long-standing tradition is a testament to the power of our Founding Family’s vision, and the steadfast commitment of so many dedicated people over the years - everyone from the players, sponsors, volunteers, donors, staff at Children’s Minnesota, the patients, and more. We are especially grateful for all you do in making this event the premier mixed doubles tournament and fundraiser in the upper Midwest.
Last year was a record-breaking year supporting the cause, raising over $460,000 and presenting a check for $330,000 to Children’s Minnesota last December. The tournament featured over 150 players, including 70 first-time participants! We had three first-time winners of the tournament (Toby Boyer, Jackie Sperling Hossieni and Tim Burke) and brought back the Junior Pine Tree Tournament featuring 40 of the best junior players in the area (who also raised over $25,000 for the cause.) Thanks to an anonymous donor and USTA Northern, we introduced the Volunteer Give Back program in which local high school and college students could volunteer at the event while earning money for their respective tennis programs. We celebrated long-time volunteer Mike Greenbaum by inducting him into the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Hall of Fame, crowned Clay Sollenberger - the "TV Voice of Pine Tree" - as the 2022 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Sportsmanship Award winner and celebrated our 2022 Honored Patients - Neesa, Ben, Yonel and Eloise. We experienced record-breaking numbers in the food tent and introduced our new Match Point Mimosa Signature Drink!
This year promises to be just as special with some new offerings. We are excited to announce that our long-time partners at the Pine Tree Apple Orchard have offered to host the Friday Night Party at their beautiful location! We also will have an online silent auction this year so our Pine Tree family from around the world can participate and support the cause and a Pine Tree pickleball event is in the works.
The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic would not be possible without the support of our many generous sponsors and donors including the Peterson Family (our Founding Family), the Jacobson Family Pine Tree Apple Orchard (our Founding Sponsor), Life Time White Bear (our Site Sponsor), our Event and Presenting sponsors, and all of our sponsors, donors, tennis players and volunteers who make the PTATC happen. Last year, we welcomed eight new sponsors to the Pine Tree family and there is always room for more. To learn more about our 2023 Sponsorship opportunities, please click here.
We continue to be amazed by the dedication of the research team at Children’s Minnesota, whose work not only helps children survive, but also thrive during and after treatment. We are so proud of their work in developing two world-renowned tumor registries, the development of an international prospective clinical trial to translate findings from the lab into clinical care, and the creation of a nationally-recognized model of rehabilitation for childhood cancer patients. The team has published countless research papers, delivered numerous presentations on research findings and collaborated on a regular basis with researchers and care providers all over the world to help children with these rare cancers in the hopes of finding a cure.
The Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund Board is enthusiastic about our mission to be a positive force in the health and well-being of kids with childhood diseases and their families and strive in continually making a difference. There is always room for more. If you have an interest in joining this wonderful team of volunteers, please let us know.
Thank you again for being an integral part of this event! We could not do it without you!
Game, Set, Cure!
2023 Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund Board of Directors
Kevin Werwie, President
Nancy Jacobson, Treasurer
Norm Longsdorf, Director
Shannon Matson, Director
Matt Narr, Director
Cheryl Yasis, Director
For each of the past 38 summers, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic (PTATC) has been an August gathering you don’t want to miss. A mixed doubles tennis event that started in 1986, the tournament has now raised almost $7 million supporting groundbreaking outcomes by the doctors and researchers at Children’s Minnesota and over 200 hospitals around the world as they discover better care treatments, and some day, a cure for childhood cancer.
The PTATC’s long-standing tradition is a testament to the power of our Founding Family’s vision, and the steadfast commitment of so many dedicated people over the years - everyone from the players, sponsors, volunteers, donors, staff at Children’s Minnesota, the patients, and more. We are especially grateful for all you do in making this event the premier mixed doubles tournament and fundraiser in the upper Midwest.
Last year was a record-breaking year supporting the cause, raising over $460,000 and presenting a check for $330,000 to Children’s Minnesota last December. The tournament featured over 150 players, including 70 first-time participants! We had three first-time winners of the tournament (Toby Boyer, Jackie Sperling Hossieni and Tim Burke) and brought back the Junior Pine Tree Tournament featuring 40 of the best junior players in the area (who also raised over $25,000 for the cause.) Thanks to an anonymous donor and USTA Northern, we introduced the Volunteer Give Back program in which local high school and college students could volunteer at the event while earning money for their respective tennis programs. We celebrated long-time volunteer Mike Greenbaum by inducting him into the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Hall of Fame, crowned Clay Sollenberger - the "TV Voice of Pine Tree" - as the 2022 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Sportsmanship Award winner and celebrated our 2022 Honored Patients - Neesa, Ben, Yonel and Eloise. We experienced record-breaking numbers in the food tent and introduced our new Match Point Mimosa Signature Drink!
This year promises to be just as special with some new offerings. We are excited to announce that our long-time partners at the Pine Tree Apple Orchard have offered to host the Friday Night Party at their beautiful location! We also will have an online silent auction this year so our Pine Tree family from around the world can participate and support the cause and a Pine Tree pickleball event is in the works.
The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic would not be possible without the support of our many generous sponsors and donors including the Peterson Family (our Founding Family), the Jacobson Family Pine Tree Apple Orchard (our Founding Sponsor), Life Time White Bear (our Site Sponsor), our Event and Presenting sponsors, and all of our sponsors, donors, tennis players and volunteers who make the PTATC happen. Last year, we welcomed eight new sponsors to the Pine Tree family and there is always room for more. To learn more about our 2023 Sponsorship opportunities, please click here.
We continue to be amazed by the dedication of the research team at Children’s Minnesota, whose work not only helps children survive, but also thrive during and after treatment. We are so proud of their work in developing two world-renowned tumor registries, the development of an international prospective clinical trial to translate findings from the lab into clinical care, and the creation of a nationally-recognized model of rehabilitation for childhood cancer patients. The team has published countless research papers, delivered numerous presentations on research findings and collaborated on a regular basis with researchers and care providers all over the world to help children with these rare cancers in the hopes of finding a cure.
The Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund Board is enthusiastic about our mission to be a positive force in the health and well-being of kids with childhood diseases and their families and strive in continually making a difference. There is always room for more. If you have an interest in joining this wonderful team of volunteers, please let us know.
Thank you again for being an integral part of this event! We could not do it without you!
Game, Set, Cure!
2023 Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund Board of Directors
Kevin Werwie, President
Nancy Jacobson, Treasurer
Norm Longsdorf, Director
Shannon Matson, Director
Matt Narr, Director
Cheryl Yasis, Director