out-of-the-box initiative from Doner CEO David DeMuth. David and his son Alex, Associate Strategy Director at Doner, have partnered to launch the latest iteration of the Cranbrook Tennis Classic, an annual ATP Challenger Tour event held in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
This year’s week-long Classic will occur from 6.30 through 7.7, when pro men’s tennis veterans will battle against future stars for coveted ranking points – and a wildcard to the US Open. Run by non-profit 501c3 Tennis Forward, founded by David DeMuth, all proceeds go to the Palmer Park Tennis Academy in Detroit and Cranbrook Athletics. Last year, the event generated $25,000 toward those organizations.
2024 sponsors include J.P. Morgan Chase, Burns & Wilcox, Core Power, the Feldman Automotive Group, Ven Johnson Law and many others. The event is a new stop for the ATP Challenger Tour and USTA Pro Circuit, bringing in 3,000 fans to the court and over 215,000 livestream viewers.
With over 60 players from 16 countries, the tournament has been voted the #2 ATP Challenger tournament by the players. Doner, the full-service creative agency operating at the intersection of Modern and Main Street, created the teaser video for the event, which you can view here.
“The Cranbrook Tennis Classic not only showcases incredible tennis talent but also supports a great cause. It’s a true testament to the power of sports to bring communities together,” said David DeMuth, CEO of Doner. “As a proud partner of Tennis Forward, the team behind the Cranbrook Tennis Classic is committed to supporting initiatives that promote sportsmanship, skill development, and community engagement through tennis.”
“Last year, this event had a major impact on fundraising for the Palmer Park Tennis Academy in Detroit and Cranbrook Athletics. We were able to provide opportunities for local kids with the opportunity to get involved with pro tennis and donated $25,000 towards those causes,” said David DeMuth, Founder at Tennis Forward. “This year, we’re looking forward to bringing back an even bigger, better version of the event, with involvement from Celebrity Match, Kid’s Clinic, and VIP Clinic.”
“The Palmer Park Tennis Academy is so grateful for the financial support provided by the Cranbrook Tennis Classic for our programs,” said Leonora (Coach Lee) King, Tennis Director at Detroit’s Palmer Park Tennis Academy. “The opportunity for our kids and families to experience world-class tennis up close was truly inspiring. We can’t wait to go back this year.”
“We are excited to welcome the international tennis community back to our beautiful Cranbrook campus for year two of the Cranbrook Tennis Classic,” said Aimeclaire Roche, President of Cranbrook Educational Community. “Thank you to the Tennis Forward team for raising funds for our athletics program and enticing visitors to experience world-class sports, art and science exhibits, and the natural beauty of our historic community.”
