The Nelson Tennis Foundation began with a shared love of tennis and a desire to give back to the Georgetown community. Its roots trace back to the Berry Creek Pro-Am, a local tournament held in 1997 and 1998 to raise funds for charitable causes.
Jane and Charles Nelson were deeply involved in the Berry Creek tennis community and played an active role in those early events, helping shape a vision that would extend far beyond a single weekend on the court.
In 1999, that vision took a meaningful step forward with the creation of the Jane and Charles Nelson Tennis Scholarship, and the tournament was renamed the Nelson Scholarship Tennis Classic, now called the Nelson Cup Tournament.
What started as a community tennis event evolved into the Foundation’s signature fundraiser, bringing together competitive play, camaraderie, and generosity through live and silent auctions.
As interest and impact grew, so did the Foundation. In 2002, the Nelson Tennis Foundation was officially recognized as a nonprofit organization and established a permanent Board of Directors.
Since then, the Foundation has continued to expand its reach through additional fundraisers—including a 5K & Fun Run, Ten Week Tennis, and Tennis Night Out events—while staying true to its mission: to promote the love of racket sports in the Georgetown community.
