Charity Tennis Event Hosted by Will Ferrell Features Top-Ranked Tennis Pros and Hollywood Celebrities to Benefit Cancer for College
Will Ferrell has amped up his training regime to bring the heat to center court for the 11th Anniversary of the Desert Smash, commemorating the greatest (and most competitive!) charity tennis event yet! Leading fashion and lifestyle brand LACOSTE is proud to join as an event sponsor this year.
Hosted by Will Ferrell, and held at the world famous La Quinta Resort & Club, the event exclusively benefits Cancer for College, a 501c3, non-profit organization that provides college scholarships for cancer survivors. Since 1993, the charity has granted nearly $2 million to more than 1,000 cancer survivors.
Taking place on Tuesday, March 10th 2015, the Desert Smash kicks off this year with two new fun playing opportunities, the first being the ultra-exclusive, VIP “Ultimate Pro-Am Experience Package;” the other, the renowned competitive on-court workout, the “LiveBall Challenge!”, made famous and invented right here in Southern California. Following these fun personal, interactive experiences, the fan favorite, Pro- Tennis Exhibition will commence at 2:30PM on La Quinta’s intimate Stadium Court.
This sell-out event is notorious for bringing together some of the world’s most accomplished professional tennis players with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars for fun, entertaining and competitive tennis. Early players scheduled to appear at this year’s exhibition include: loyal Desert Smasher’s 2013 Australian Open Doubles Champions and ATP World No. 1 Doubles Team Bob & Mike Bryan. Star players that have participated in the past include: ATP World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, WTA World No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki, Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Marat Safin, Victoria Azarenka and Mardy Fish. Last year’s celebrity battle with Novak Djokovic & Will Ferrell vs. Kevin Spacey & Stan Wawrinka will be a hard match to top!
Ferrell’s remarks on his return to the Smash: “I’m very excited to once again be part of Desert Smash and to be supporting a great cause in Cancer for College. After thoroughly dismantling Kevin Spacey and that other guy he played with last year, it’s honestly been difficult finding the fire to do it all again. That said, I will be spending the next 30 days in solitude hiking the San Jacinto Mountains with nothing more than my racket and a spiritual adviser I found loitering in the beef jerky aisle at the 7-Eleven off Highway 111. All I know is when I come down off that mountain and hit the main court at La Quinta on March 10, I’ll be ready for business.”
The Desert Smash Celebrity/Pro-Am Tournament is arguably one of the country’s most renowned; composed of currently ranked WTA and ATP Tour players and some of the most notable and recognized celebrity players. Past participants include: Stan Wawrinka, Ivan Ljubicic, Dinara Safina, Ernests Gulbis, Daniela Hantuchova, Paul Henri Mathieu, Xavier Malisse, James Blake, Jack Sock and Grand Slam Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Each year, the Desert Smash attracts both celebrity and tennis fans who flock to La Quinta to rub elbows with the world’s best tennis players. Celebrities scheduled to appear this year include event host and “Anchorman” star Will Ferrell, Justin Chambers (Grey’s Anatomy), Kevin McKidd (Grey’s Anatomy, Brave), Timothy Olyphant (Justified, Live Free or Die Hard), RedFoo (LMFAO), Lance Bass and Boris Kodjoe.
Past celebrity attendees included: Rebel Wilson, Joel McHale, Michael B. Jordan, Christian Slater, Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani, Ryan Kwanten, Joe Pesci, Justin Chambers, Timothy Olyphant, Boris Kodjoe, Michael Vartan, Lance Bass, Joanna Garcia, Eliza Dushku, Jennifer Morrison, and James Van Der Beek.
Capping off an epic day of fundraising and tennis, the celebration will continue into the evening with the 11th annual Desert Smash Player Party, sponsored by Herradura tequila and featuring live performances from Lifehouse, Natasha Bedingfield and DJ Bob Sinclar. To close the show, Justin Bieber will be playing an exclusive acoustic set solely dedicated to Will!
Ferrell notes: “All jokes aside, there’s nothing easy about cancer. It can devastate a family physically, emotionally and financially. It’s what makes Cancer for College so important. They make a college education a reality for these survivors who want nothing more than to return to a normal life and experience college. Helping these families after all they have been through is the absolute least we can do.”
For more event details, to participate, buy tickets or to make a donation, please visit: www.desertsmash.com or call: 212-677-0012
ABOUT CANCER FOR COLLEGE
Since 1993, Cancer for College has been providing hope and inspiration to cancer survivors by providing college scholarships. Founded by two-time cancer survivor and double amputee Craig Pollard, the charity has granted nearly $2 million in college scholarships to more than 1,000 survivors from around the country. To learn more about Cancer for College please visit www.cancerforcollege.org.
ABOUT La Quinta Resort & Club® and PGA WEST®: A Haven for Relaxation:
La Quinta Resort & Club, a member of The Waldorf Astoria Collection, is a legendary resort destination that has reigned over the picturesque Palm Springs area in the city of La Quinta with grace and charm since 1926. The Hollywood hideaway is located in a spectacular setting among citrus groves at the base of the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains. There are 796 elegantly appointed casitas, suites and villas, and the resort’s 66,000 square feet of function space makes it ideal for meetings, weddings and other special occasions. Guests enjoy the resort’s five championship golf courses including three PGA WEST® courses; 23 tennis courts; the 23,000-square-foot Spa La Quinta®, 41 pools and 53 hot spas; exceptional cuisine at Morgan’s in the desert, Twenty6 and Adobe Grill; La Quinta Resort & Club is located at 49-499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta, CA 92253.
About LACOSTE:
For LACOSTE, Life is a Beautiful Sport! Since the very first polo shirt was created in 1933, LACOSTE relies on its authentic sportive roots to spring optimism and elegance on the world thanks to a unique and original lifestyle for women, men and children. With a vision to be the leading player in the premium casual wear market, the Crocodile brand is today present in 120 countries through a selective distribution network. Two LACOSTE items are sold every second in the world. As an international group gathering 10,000 women and men, LACOSTE offers a complete range of products: apparel, leather goods, fragrances, footwear, eyewear, homewear, watches and underwear, all of them being elaborated in the most qualitative, responsible and ethical way. In 2013, the brand garnered a turnover of 1.8 billion euros. For more information: www.lacoste.com