Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic. Photo: PTACF
The annual tennis tournament celebrates 40 years.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, an annual event that draws tennis players and fans to Lifetime in White Bear Lake for a cause.
It all began in 1986 when Mary Ann and Ron Peterson founded a mixed doubles tournament to thank the staff at Children’s Minnesota who supported their daughter through a cancer diagnosis. In 2018, event volunteers established the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund (PTACF), a nonprofit dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research. To date, the tournament has raised more than $8 million. Children’s Minnesota remains the primary recipient, and research funded by PTACF has impacted more than 600 hospitals in 66 countries.
The tournament includes four divisions: junior, open, masters and grand masters. There is no entry fee for players, but they are asked to fundraise for the cause. One of the top fundraisers last year was White Bear Lake Area High School girls’ tennis coach Marla Menne, who raised nearly $24,000.
“I think it’s truly amazing to see the community—not only the tennis community but the White Bear Lake community and surrounding communities—come together for this one weekend to celebrate the cause,” says Lisa Mushett, executive director of PTACF.
The tournament will be held from July 31 to August 3 at Life Time in White Bear Lake. The event is free to attend and features a children’s craft area, silent auction and food and merchandise vendors.
For more information on the tournament, volunteer opportunities and ways to give, visit ptacf.org.
