50th Anniversary NJTL of Trenton Gala

Join NJTL of Trenton to celebrate its 50th Anniversary on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 12pm to 5pm. This exciting event will feature a tennis exhibition, auction, buffet, open bar, dessert and music! 

EVENT SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS

• Address: Mercer County Park, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
  • VIP & Tennis Exhibition at Mercer County Indoor Tennis Center
  • Dinner & Honoree Awards Presentation at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake 
• 11:00am to 12:00pm VIP Meet & Greet with Kim Clijsters (Mercer Indoor Tennis Center)
• 12:00pm to 2:30pm Tennis Exhibition with Kim Clijsers and Ashe Elite Students (Mercer Indoor Tennis Center)
• 3:00pm to 5:00pm Dinner and Honoree Award Presentation (The Boathouse at Mercer Lake)

NJTL of Trenton creates opportunities for success by enriching the lives of under-resourced youth through innovative tennis, education, mentoring programs and college and technical school scholarships. 

2025 GALA HONOREES

The George H. and Estelle M. Sands Foundation was started by George and Estelle Sands in 1996.  During the first few years, the foundation primarily supported the Princeton Medical Center, the Princeton Library, and the Arts Council of Princeton as well as a few other local organizations.  In 2009, Jeff Sands with his wife Betsy, and Deborah Sands Gartenberg, children of George and Estelle, took over running the foundation. Deborah's passion and volunteer efforts have always been about supporting children who don't have access to many opportunities. The children in Trenton became her focus, and for the last few years she has devoted her time and her portion of the foundation's funds toward giving the children in Trenton opportunities to succeed, stay in school. and benefit from better health. Debbie works with and supports about 25 local organizations whose missions are to accomplish these goals. NJTL has a special place in Debbie's heart. She has been an avid supporter since 2016. 

The New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group was founded in 1913 and is a leading property casualty insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Company employs nearly 2,500 workers and is headquartered in West Trenton with offices in Parsippany and Hammonton.   

      NJM operates in the sole interest of its policyholders, resulting in competitive prices and award-winning service. Dedicated employees are the foundation for NJM’s culture of service, honoring commitments, fostering trust, and building long-term relationships with our policyholders.

     The Company is consistently recognized for its award-winning customer service, superior claims handling, and overall customer satisfaction. NJM’s personal insurance products and services are available to all Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and 

Pennsylvania residents. The Company also works with a preferred network of independent agents to deliver business insurance in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

     A core value at NJM is to support the communities we are privileged to serve. Our corporate giving and volunteer programs put this value into action by helping address the needs of the communities where our policyholders and employees live and work. In 2024, the Company supported over 500 charitable organizations across the Mid-Atlantic region.

     NJM has been a proud partner of National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton (NJTL) since 2010. The Company was a contributing sponsor to NJTL’s annual gala and has provided financial support for a court renovation project at Cadwalader Park and the Academic Creative Engagement (ACE) program. NJM’s support of the NJLThas included helping fund improvements to Trenton’s Villa Park Tennis Courts and its employees participating in the annual Capital Cup Tennis Competition.

SPECIAL GUEST KIM CLIJSTERS

Kim Clisters is a former WTA World #1 Singles and Doubles Player and a 4-time Grand Slam Champion. Clijsters won the WTA Tour season-ending Championships singles title three times (2002, 2003, 2010).  In 2001, she was part of the Belgium Fed Cup winning team.  Clijsters was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 22, 2017 and was appointed Honorary President of the Hall of Fame on August 25, 2022. She returns this year to play in an exciting exhibition with the NJTL student athletes and graduates!

Proceeds from this signature event directly benefit our Trenton-area kids.  With this support, we can continue to create opportunities for success through our programming, designed to prepare student-athletes for college admission and career placement.

 Long standing supporters Albert Stark and Ginny Mason will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs. Julia Benedict is serving as Event Chairperson. The success of this event keeps NJTLT moving forward.

SPONSORSHIP

We are so grateful for our sponsors whose generosity and involvement help us further our mission. Together, we are helping make a difference in the lives of so many youth. NJTL of Trenton is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Tax I.D. #52-1260470