“The kids there need help as much as any in society”: How Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf gave one fan a once-in-a-lifetime tennis experience while helping a Texas school

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf gave tennis fans in Houston a rare opportunity on April 15, 2007. One lucky bidder could travel to Las Vegas and take a tennis lesson with the two champions. But the event had a bigger goal. The couple joined a charity fundraiser for Simms Elementary School in La Marque, Texas, where children needed healthier classrooms, computers, books and a safe playground. By the end of the day, the effort had raised $300,000. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf helped turn a fan's tennis dream into a $70,000 bidThe event took place at Westside Tennis and Fitness Club during the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships. Agassi and Graf appeared as part of The Big Give, an Oprah Winfrey-sponsored reality show that challenged participants to raise money for people in need.Doctor Stefan Krenzer won the opportunity to visit Las Vegas, where the couple lived, and take a tennis lesson with both stars. His co-winning bid cost $70,000. For a tennis fan, the chance to learn from two players who had won a combined 30 Grand Slam singles titles was an extraordinary prize.Still, the auction went beyond tennis. Another bidder paid $45,000 for a chance to meet singer Celine Dion and attend one of her concerts. A golf lesson with Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods' former coach, combined with the chance to take batting practice with Major League Baseball pitcher Greg Maddux, fetched $25,000.The crowd contributed another $23,000 through collection buckets. Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young pledged $15,000 over the phone, while club owner Jim McIngvale added more than $50,000. Per Houston Chronicle The contributions brought the total to $300,000.Why Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf wanted to help children at Simms ElementaryAgassi visited Simms Elementary on the morning of April 15 and spent about two hours touring the school. He found children studying in a building with mold problems that raised health concerns. The school also needed newer computers, more books and a playground that had suffered repeated break-ins.Speaking to reporters at the Houston event Agassi said, “The kids there need help as much as any in society.”He explained why the school needed better facilities, adding, “You have to be healthy to learn.”Agassi wants to help children who cannot get the most out of their education if their surroundings put their health at risk or leave them without basic learning resources.The fundraiser aimed to provide roughly $300,000 in upgrades and supplies. Agassi had spent years supporting education through his own foundation, which raised money for disadvantaged young people in Las Vegas. The Houston event brought that mission to another school in need.“It's a show about believing in the best of the human spirit,” Agassi said in Houston on April 15, 2007, describing the idea behind :The Big Give”The day also had an unexpected moment. While Agassi and Graf hit balls with two young ball kids, Agassi accidentally struck his wife in the lip with his racket. Graf needed three stitches from Dr. Jack Jensen, the official physician for the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.Agassi later said, “She's OK. It was an unfortunate accident.”The mishap briefly interrupted the event, but the fundraiser had a lasting purpose. Krenzer secured an unusual tennis experience with two legends, while the children at Simms Elementary stood to gain better facilities and learning resources. The $300,000 total gave the event a result that extended well beyond the court.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.