Zurich honors two New Orleans
advocates for children
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The recipients of the Zurich Classic
Community Impact Award are making
a difference in the lives of local children
through unique programs.
Zurich Insurance will honor two
community leaders on Sunday for their
work to improve the lives of children in New
Orleans. Dr. Anna Monhartova, co-founder
of A’s and Aces, and Chuck Roth, executive
director of Boys Hope Girls Hope New
Orleans, are this year’s recipients of the
Zurich Classic Community Impact Award.
Zurich Insurance annually recognizes
leaders in the New Orleans nonprofit
community as part of the Zurich Classic PGA
TOUR golf tournament, held April 24-30
at TPC Louisiana. The award recipients—
part of the Fore!Kids Foundation group
of supported charities—make significant
contributions to building resilient and
sustainable communities through their
inspirational leadership and ability to enact
positive change.
Monhartova founded A’s & Aces in
2008 to provide assistance to New Orleans
public school children and others who
have historically lacked access to quality
educational support and tennis. Children in
the program first played USTA Junior Team
Tennis in 2011, and A’s & Aces had more
teams and participants than any other New
Orleans area organization, club, or park.
The number of children regularly impacted
has steadily increased each year, and about
1,000 children now participate annually.
At Boys Hope Girls Hope New Orleans,
Roth leads his staff to tackle the root causes
of generational poverty and academic
underachievement by addressing two of
the greatest needs at-risk youth in New
Orleans face: the need for a healthy home
environment, and the need for a strong
academic foundation. Over 91 percent of
their current scholars are from families who
are either at or below the poverty level, and
approximately 85 percent of the scholars
will be the first in their family on track to
enroll and complete their postsecondary
degree at a four year university.
“Changing the Zurich Classic to a two-
man team format this year highlights the
importance of teamwork to achieve great
results,” said Mike Foley, CEO of Zurich
North America. “Anna and Chuck have
similarly demonstrated through their work
that many people working together can
have a transformative impact on the lives
of children in need which, in turn, can help
build more resilient communities.”
Recipients of the Zurich Classic
Community Impact Award receive a
crystal award and $10,000 donation to
their nonprofit organization, as well as a
skills-based consulting session with Zurich
employees in an area of critical need for the
organization.