NJTLT Gala1181 — The Bryan Brothers, flanked by National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton graduates Rosemary Esquivel and Alfred Kandakai and honorary gala co-chair Albert Stark. Photo by Beverly Schaefer.

The National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton’s 27^th annual gala on Sept. 26 raised more than $300,000 to support programs for Trenton area young people. The event had been postponed twice since 2019 due to the pandemic.

Rather than the usual formal sit-down dinner, organizers opted for an afternoon of tennis, followed by an informal reception at the Boathouse at Mercer Lake. The Bryan Brothers, winners of 16 grand slam doubles titles, were the special guests at the event. The identical twins wowed the crowd of more than 150 people with their shot-making and interactive drills with sponsors and tennis program students.

Graduates of the tennis program are attending 13 different colleges this fall. Many received college scholarships from the National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton organization.

The committee of volunteers for the fundraiser was led by Amy Decker and Andrew Lieu, honoree Jeff Perlman, honorary co-chairs Albert Stark and Ginny Mason, emcees Eric Scott and Alan Meinster, NJTLT Executive Director Bob Loonie, NJTLT coaches, and NJTLT Board President Thomas Majdanski.

BL9F7360 — The Bryan Brothers on-court tennis clinic for the NJTLT gala. Photo by Beverly Schaefer.

BL9F7086 — (l-r) NJTLT Board President Thomas Majdanski, honorary gala co-chair Ginny Mason, honorary gala co-chair Albert Stark, honoree Jeffrey Perlman, honoree Benny Sims, tennis coach and gala co-chair Andrew Lieu, and gala co-chair Amy Decker. Photo by Beverly Schaefer.

Krystal Knapp

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.