Sport for development

ATP - Association of Tennis Professionals

Using the power of tennis to ensure the health, education and protection of children, ATP and UNICEF launched the ACE partnership, Assisting Children Everywhere in 2005.  ATP players, tournaments and fans support the ACE partnership through various communications and fundraising initiatives. At the Pacific Life Open held in Indian Wells in March 2005, ten of the world's top male tennis players participated in the ACE Rally for Relief, raising over US $40,000 for UNICEF's relief efforts in countries affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

ATP’s #1 ranked player, Roger Federer, was appointed UNICEF’s newest International Goodwill Ambassador in April 2006. Shortly thereafter, the Feder-bear Beanie Baby® was born and embarked on the Feder-bear Everywhere Tour – accompanying Roger at tournaments all over the world starting from the US Open and ending in Shanghai.  With the Feder-bear, fans can take home a plush toy teddy bear version of this top-ranked tennis player with a proven commitment to the world’s children.

The Feder-bear Beanie Baby® retails for US $8 and is sold internationally during ATP tournaments at UNICEF on-site booths and on-line via the ATP and the Ty Inc. website, the global Beanie Baby manufacturer.  US $5 from the sale of each ATP exclusive Feder-bear Beanie baby benefits the ACE partnership, a program aimed at raising funds and awareness of UNICEF’s global humanitarian efforts for children everywhere through the power of sport. 

Federer also recently recorded a Public Service Announcement, in English, French and German, in support of UNICEF’s Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign to raise awareness about the problems facing children with HIV/AIDS.

To support the global launch of the AIDS campaign, ATP players wore blue shoestrings at tournaments in Basel, Switzerland; Lyon, France; and St. Petersburg, Russia. The shoestrings symbolizes that the ATP is ‘tied-in’ to UNICEF’s goal to support millions of children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.  ATP officials and ball kids at each tournament also wore the blue shoestrings.

In addition, Andy Roddick recorded a video testimonial which aired at the campaign launch event at the United Nations.