“Have a Heart for Hospice!”
All American Air Charitable Foundation Hosts Second Tournament
Steve & Christine Chapman
by Linda Meehan
On Saturday, February 12, 2011, Steve and Christine Chapman’s lovely home in Saint Augustine Beach will be transformed into a classic Valentine setting from yesteryear to help raise funds for Northeast Florida Community Hospice and the Bailey Center for Caring on the Flagler Hospital campus. Celebrating the turn-of-the-century parlor game of table tennis, a full, competitive tournament, the Second Annual All American Air Table Tennis Classic, will be hosted by the Chapmans and their new All American Air Charitable Foundation. The tournament is organized and run by Derek May, former publisher of The Saint Augustine Record, and his father, Pete May, both of whom have impressive table tennis credentials. Derek is a former U.S. National Table Tennis team member and past alternate for the U.S. Olympic team for this popular sport. Derek’s father, Pete, is a seven-time Georgia state table tennis champion in the sport which, in some circles, is known as ‘ping-pong.’
“Steve and I are so grateful for all the support shown in the First Annual AAATTC, and we are thrilled to announce that this year, under the auspices of our newly formed All American Air Charitable Foundation,” Mrs. Chapman explained, “the recipient of all proceeds will be our local Community Hospice organization, and, specifically, the Bailey Center for Caring. Steve and I feel that through the All American Air Charitable Foundation, we can best support the many charities who are in need, and depend upon local businesses and donors like us in our community.” The Chapmans are familiar faces at fundraising events in Saint Augustine and serve on several local boards, serving many community projects meant to better the lives of citizens in our area. “We know,” added Mr. Chapman, “that we are fortunate to enjoy the success we have through All American Air – a business I started so many years ago in Saint Augustine – and we want to continue to give back to the community we love!” The Board of Directors for the All American Air Charitable Foundation include, Casey Van Rysdam, Lauren Abell, Naomi Wilkinson, Linda Meehan, and Christine Chapman.
Over 40 local ‘celebrity participants’, who are encouraged to be creative in their nicknames as well as their overall court style and attire, will compete in the double-elimination tournament costumed in everything imaginable to match their competitive nicknames. Over two hundred and fifty formally-attired guests will enjoy cocktails and a delicious menu provided by Chef Extraordinaire, Mary Pritchard and her Culinary Outfitters team, while cheering on their favorite players competing in fiercely competitive 11-point games at three outside tables, and the coveted Center Court where the exhibition match by Derek May will be played prior to the singing of the National Anthem by the crowd in preparation for the final competition. Tournament Champion from the First Annual AAATTC, Alex Wimpelberg, will be defending his title in a fiercely competitive field of Classic players. The signature table tennis event held in October, 2009 at the Chapman home raised over $18,000 for charities supported by the Junior Service League of Saint Augustine, a local service organization of which Mrs. Chapman is a former president.
Invited guests will conclude the evening with dancing and dessert, knowing that through the revival of an old sport, they have supported another worthy cause in our community under the leadership of Steve and Christine Chapman and the All American Air Charitable Foundation.