Game On!

Last night we went to the home of the Swedish Ambassador to celebrate the Junior Tennis Champions Center and raise funds for scholarships for its Game On.

Photo credit: Art Seitz

The night's host, Swedish Ambassador Bjorn Lyrvall; tennis legend, former world No. 1, TV analyst, entrepreneur, and the night’s honoree Jim Courier; the night's top sponsor, GEICO VP Rynthia Rost; her daughter, Real Housewives of Potomac star and Rost Foundation director Katie Rost; Summit Series founder and the night’s honoree, Elliott Bisnow; and Swedish tennis great, former world No. 1, and JTCC adviser Mats Wilander.

Photo credit: The Scene Bisnow

We snapped former USAID head, now TJM International Consultants principal, Alonzo Fulgham, international consultant Mary Bush, JTCC director of tennis Vesa Ponkka, and former CitiBank vice chair Michael Helfer. Since its founding by Ken Brody 16 years ago, JTCC has become the nation's premier tennis training facility.

Photo credit: The Scene Bisnow

G. William Miller managing director Michael Cardozo, Reed Smith partner Olivia Shay-Byrne, and her daughter Hayley, who trains at the Center. JTCC’s community outreach program Game On provides educational opportunities and tennis instruction to the area’s underserved youth, putting them on the path to college scholarships.

Photo credit: The Scene Bisnow

National Museum of Women in the Arts Board member Marcia Carlucci, philanthropy power couple George and Trish Vradenburg, Grameen Foundation Board member Ricki Helfer (and we see you back there, Rob Liberatore). After a delightful reception in the gardens, over 300 enjoyed a Swedish barbecue of salmon, shrimp and beef under a large tent.

Photo credit: The Scene Bisnow

Wolftrap Board member Denise Grant with Woodley House Board member Isabel Jasinowski and her husband, former NAM CEO Jerry Jasinowski. JTCC's future tennis stars held a friendly competition on the courts at the end of the expansive grounds.

Photo credit: The Scene Bisnow

Elliott Bisnow is bookended by two of his great coaches: Landon’s Mac Jacoby and JTCC’s Vesa Ponkka, and Vesa’s wife, Kim.

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