Tennis Legend Stan Smith Headlines Fundraiser at West Side Tennis Club to Benefit Bud Collins Welcome Center at Sportsmen’s
Sep 13, 2025
More than 75 guests gathered at the historic West Side Tennis Club for a special fundraiser featuring Tennis Hall of Famer Stan Smith. The event supported the Bud Collins Tennis Welcome Center at Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center—the first nonprofit indoor tennis club in the country built by and for the African-American community in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Photo courtesy of
Sportsmen's Tennis.
The evening included a lively conversation with Smith, tours of the storied club, a silent auction (including a pair of Bud’s trademark pants), and an intimate VIP reception in the Bud Collins Tennis Library. VIP guests received a personalized copy of Smith’s new book, Winning Trust – How to Create Moments That Matter.
Photo source: Stan Smith Events.
During his remarks, Smith reflected on his career and shared stories of his friendship with the late Arthur Ashe, noting that the two played together on the U.S. Davis Cup team and were frequent “opponents” in exhibition matches. He also shared that it was Bud Collins who first brought Ashe to Sportsmen’s in the early 1970s.
Photo courtesy of
Sportsmen's Tennis.
“Bud always believed tennis was for everyone, and he made sure Arthur Ashe was part of that story at Sportsmen’s,” said Smith. “That’s the kind of legacy worth honoring.”
The event marked a milestone in the campaign to build the Bud Collins Tennis Welcome Center, a new hub at Sportsmen’s that will unite two buildings into one fully accessible, welcoming space. Set to begin construction in the next six months, the project will create easier access to the courts, house a pro shop, and serve as a community gathering place.
Photo courtesy of
Sportsmen's Tennis.
“Sportsmen’s was so dear to Bud’s heart, and this Welcome Center truly reflects everything he stood for. He would be deeply moved to see his legacy honored in such a thoughtful way. I can’t wait for this beautiful space to welcome generations to come, just as Bud always did,” said Anita Ruthling-Klaussen, Collins’ widow.
All proceeds from the fundraiser benefit Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center’s mission to build opportunity through tennis, academics, and community.
To learn more about the Bud Collins Tennis Welcome Center or to donate in his honor, visit the Sportsmen’s website.
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Courtesy of Sportsmen's Tennis. Top photo courtesy of Sportsmen's Tennis.