The excitement is building as the 7th annual KATE KUP Triples Tennis Tournament prepares to once again bring the community together for a day of competition, camaraderie and purpose in support of the Kate Amato Foundation, whose mission is to fund innovative pediatric cancer research that accelerates the pace of progress and saves young lives.
The foundation is still seeking additional sponsors and donors to help ensure another successful and impactful tournament.
KATE KUP will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at The Yards in Sawgrass. This family-friendly event continues to grow in popularity each year and is officially sold out for player registration.
However, sponsorship opportunities remain available, and spectators are encouraged to attend. This high-energy, community-driven event offers free admission to the public and promises a fun day of triples tennis, delicious food from local favorite Taco Lu; a live DJ; a beer garden and champagne tent for the adults; Kid Zone activities including face painting, games and ice cream; and an awards after-party, all in support of groundbreaking pediatric cancer research funded through the Kate Amato Foundation.
This year’s tournament is presented by Harbor View Private Wealth, whose support is crucial to the continued growth and success of the event. While this marks the first year Harbor View has served as the presenting sponsor, the firm’s owner has been a longtime sponsor and supporter of the tournament and its mission, demonstrating a deep and personal commitment to advancing pediatric cancer research.
“We are honored to step into the role of presenting sponsor this year,” said Angelo Esposito, co-founder of Harbor View Private Wealth. “I’ve supported this tournament for years because I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of the Kate Amato Foundation. The impact this event has on funding innovative, life-saving pediatric cancer research is real, and we are proud to help take it even further.”
Through events like the KATE KUP, the foundation provides grant funding to support cutting-edge research projects at leading immunotherapy and cancer genomics labs across the country including Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Duke University, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Seattle Children’s Research Institute and more.
“We are incredibly grateful to the donors, partners, sponsors and supporters who believe so deeply in our mission,” said Lisa Amato, founder of Kate Amato Foundation. “Because of their generosity, we have reached the incredible milestone of $1 million in grants awarded for pediatric cancer research, and we are just getting started. By funding innovative science, our foundation is helping accelerate breakthroughs that will save lives and bring hope to children and families facing cancer.”
Jacksonville Beach residents, Lisa and Jeff Amato lost their daughter Kate, at the young age of 11 in November 2016, after a long and difficult battle with cancer. She is the inspiration for the foundation. Through her illness, Kate’s parents discovered how severely underfunded research is for pediatric cancer and witnessed first-hand the brutal effects of outdated, toxic treatments. To honor Kate’s life and continue the fight for other children, the Kate Amato Foundation was formed.
KATE Signature fundraising events hosted by the Kate Amato Foundation include the KATE KUP Triples Tennis Tournament, KATE KLASSIC Golf Tournament and KATE KOMBO Golf & Pickleball Tournament, all of which draw strong community participation and corporate support each year.
Beyond its signature events, the foundation’s impact extends through caregiving programs such as KATE’S Kindness Project, which provides immediate, direct support to local children battling cancer at area hospitals, and KATE KLUB, a school-based initiative that empowers students to get involved through fundraising events and service activities.
The Kate Amato Foundation extended its gratitude to the current sponsors whose generous support and commitment has helped make the KATE KUP Triple Tennis Tournament the success that it is.
As they prepare for this year's tournament, they invite all businesses and organizations to join them in supporting their mission to find safer, more innovative, treatments for childhood cancer.
Sponsorship packages are available at various levels, offering unique opportunities for brand visibility and community engagement.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, go to https://kateamatofoundation.org/kate-kup.
To volunteer at the KATE KUP, go to https://kateamatofoundation.org/kate-kup-volunteers.
To donate to the Kate Amato Foundation or learn more, go to KateAmatoFoundation.org.
