The Joey Gratton Championship

There is no greater and more fulfilling investment in the future than children. With the proper guidance and support those children will thrive and make the world a better place.  No one can resist the energy and the happiness a child’s smile can bring.  As the saying goes, there is no greater reward or measure of success than having made a positive difference in a child’s life.  We are fortunate to have organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Joey Gratton Foundation that exist to give kids a chance to succeed.  They provide guidance, hope, and a helping hand for a bright future.

Joey Gratton was a man who always had a smile on his face. His laugh was infectious and he had a drive and passion for life. He was one those memorable, special people you were lucky to have met and will certainly never be forgotten. Joey loved sports and he excelled in everything from Baseball, to Motocross, to Boat racing and Tennis. Anything less than 100% was unacceptable. Joey also loved kids. He went out of his way to say something nice and supportive to a young athlete and he never hesitated to reach into his pocket and help pay if someone was in need. After his death in 2011, his family chose to create the Joey Gratton Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to spread Joey’s passion for competition by supporting and promoting youth in sports. The hope being, that by enabling less privileged kids to become involved in sports, it will give them a focus and a goal. Keeping kids motivated, off the streets and out of trouble.

Joey loved the game of tennis. He was a passionate player and thrived off of the competition. What greater way to honor his legacy, than to launch the first annual Joey Gratton Tennis Championships. This will not only create a venue to bring together the local tennis community, but also raise awareness for one of Sarasota’s exceptional charities. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota.

Join The Sarasota Open, Bath and Racquet, and all of our outstanding sponsors in supporting the Boys and Girls Club and sharing in Joey’s passion for supporting kids and love for the game of tennis.