Billie Jean King holds court as women’s fund raises $160K for local programs
Published to Greenwich Time on April 6, 2018
Lurching and waving their arms, hundreds motioned to Billie Jean King as she lofted tennis balls into the crowd. She paused just to dance and strum her racket like an air guitar, prompting even more enthused hollers.
The sports and social justice icon’s routine capped off the annual luncheon hosted Thursday by the Fairfield County Community Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls. Donations to support area women seeking economic security totaled more than $60,000 by the time King finished telling her Greenwich audience about scrounging up odd jobs to pay for her first tennis racket before going on to build the sort of professional sports league of which she had long dreamed.
With matching contributions from King and others, $160,000 was raised via text-to-give donations during the event. A total of all donations, including net ticket sales and sponsorships, will be tallied later.