Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi, born in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1970, is well known for his record of tennis championships. When he was a youth, his rebellious spirit was his calling card. During his professional tennis career he won eight Grand Slam titles and won the Olympic Gold Medal for men’s singles tennis at the Atlanta games in 1996. His tennis style was a very aggressive baseline style, and he has been called the best service returner to play tennis by several of his peers. His timing and reflexes are extraordinary.

Agassi retired from tennis after the US Open in 2006. He suffers from sciatica, a vertebral displacement, and a bone spur. After retirement he has concentrated on his philanthropic work through the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation. His foundation helps at-risk children in Southern Nevada, and has raised over $60 million for several projects. One of these is the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas. It is a K-12 public charter school with a goal of offering not only academic programs to at-risk youth, but to provide programs that will enhance character, respect, motivation, and self-discipline. The Foundation also sponsors a Boys and Girls Club activities center, a residential facility for youth, a shelter for abused and neglected children, a for-teens/by-teens publication free to area high school students, and support of the Southern Nevada YMCA. Agassi’s foundation also supports other programs such as the Philharmonic Youth Concert Series, summer camp programs, and a program that provides free school clothing to needy children.