PIEDMONT, CA – At this week’s Piedmont City Council meeting, Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization (PRFO) presented the first installment check for $400,000 in pursuit of its $500,000 goal to the City to fund the renovation and creation of the Corey Reich Tennis Center (CRTC).

The generous support of Piedmont’s tennis and resident community donors have funded the reimagined tennis center renovation, and the remaining $100,000 to be raised in the coming weeks will be endowed for deferred maintenance in Corey’s and the CRTC’s name.  Donations will be gladly accepted through the completion of the project in mid-August, and can be made online at http://www.prfo.org/corey.

The fundraising effort has been driven by a committee representing the tennis community including Andy Filler, Leila Kasrovi, Betsy Lalli, Barbara Love, Melanie Marcus, Neil Rothenberg, Shahan Soghikian, and Bernie Yu.

Corey Reich, a 2004 graduate of Piedmont High School, was a member of the Men’s Varsity Tennis Team. In 2007, he was diagnosed with ALS, and after graduating from Middlebury with honors in 2008, Corey returned to Piedmont and has served as the Assistant Coach for the Piedmont High School Men’s and Women’s Varsity Tennis teams. Corey has been instrumental in the continued success of the PHS tennis program, whose men’s and women’s programs have been the only ones to qualify every year for the NCS Team Championships since its inception in 1998-99.

The Hawkins family of Piedmont has been an active and engaged supporter of Piedmont tennis and the renovation effort.

“The varsity tennis program has been a great experience for our son, Luke,” said Karen Hawkins. “We are big fans of coaches Jim and Corey, and are delighted to contribute to a new tennis facility in Corey’s name.”

Initially scoped tennis center improvements included resurfacing the courts with a slipsheet overlay system, installation of new net posts and nets, installation of new fencing surrounding and new ball stop fencing between courts, as well as, drainage improvements at the west end of the complex.

With the community’s financial support, renovations have expanded to include installation of new bleachers for spectators and tennis court benches for players, installation of new LED lights, installation of a new drinking fountain with water bottle filler, and a permanent Wall of Champions to recognize winning teams and players from Piedmont High School tennis teams.

For more information and schematics on the renovation and fundraising efforts, visit http://www.prfo.org/corey.