Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Classic

Seles, Capriati, Duchovny, Rossdale among tennis, entertainment stars supporting new charity event

Pacific Palisades, Calif. – Former French Open doubles champions Luke and Murphy Jensen will host the inaugural Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, Dec. 8, at The Riviera Tennis Club. Nine-time Grand Slam winner Monica Seles, three-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Capriati, actor David Duchovny and musician Gavin Rossdale are among the tennis and entertainment stars scheduled to join the Jensens for the event.

Expected to join Seles, Capriati, Duchovny, Rossdale and the Jensens are former UCLA star Justin Gimelstob, former WTA Tour player Carling Bassett-Seguso and Robert Seguso, actors Scott Foley, Donna Mills and Eric Braeden, as well as other stars from sports, television, music and film. The fun-filled day of tennis and an “Evening with the Stars” gala will raise money for a number of Jensen designated youth-oriented charities, including Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy for Down Syndrome, the National Down Syndrome Society and The Riviera Foundation.

The Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic gets underway with a tennis pro-am from 9-11:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, followed by a kids’ clinic from 12-1:30 p.m. A pro-celebrity tennis exhibition will be played from 1:30-4:30 p.m. The activities climax with the “Evening with the Stars” gala from 7-11 p.m. at The Riviera Country Club. The gala will feature top entertainment and a live auction.

“I am honored to be asked to co-host the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, “said Luke Jensen. “It is going to be a special day and night that will benefit three great causes and we are especially excited to have Monica join us for the event.”

“I’m still a tennis player, but I also have been studying very hard to become an actor, so the fact that I can be a part of an event that will bring tennis players and celebrities together in L.A. is just way too cool,” Murphy Jensen said.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to participate in the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic along with Luke and Murphy,” said Seles, who was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1991-92.

“At Bank of the West, we have a strong commitment to the communities we serve and especially endorse activities that bring people together to support worthy charitable causes,” said Rick Davis, Southern California Division executive. “We are pleased to sponsor this event to benefit children’s charities.”

About Bank of the West: Founded in 1874, $58.4 billion-asset Bank of the West (http://www.bankofthewest.com/) offers a full range of business, corporate, personal, trust and international banking services and currently operates more than 700 branch locations and commercial banking offices in 19 Western and Midwestern states.

The Jensen Brothers designated youth organizations, including the Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy for Down Syndrome, will help meet the sport specific needs of children and young adults with Down Syndrome and other special needs. In addition to meeting sport specific needs, the other designated organizations will use multiple avenues in assisting special needs and disadvantaged children.

C & H Events, Inc., which owns and will operate the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, is a full-service event management and marketing company based in Boca Raton, Fla. Please visit www.chevents.com for further details about C & H Events.

“It is very exciting for C & H Events to head west and bring to Southern California the exciting Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic,” C & H Events President Michele Cope said. “We are looking forward to working with Luke and Murphy Jensen as hosts of this charity event, and to forge a strong alliance with our title sponsor Bank of the West and our site host The Riviera Country Club. We’re hoping our hard work will result in some very worthwhile charities receiving generous checks to help children in need.”

For more information on the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, phone C & H Events at 888-85-YOUTH. For tickets to the exhibition, phone 877-888-6433.