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BNP Paribas Celebrates 50 Years of Commitment to Tennis and Social Impact at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open

Global Tennis Sponsor to Activate Environmental and Social Inclusion Initiatives Geared Toward Youth

BNP Paribas, Europe’s leading financial institution and a global sponsor of tennis, celebrates 50 years of commitment to tennis and its social impact. The Bank will highlight how tennis has the power to mobilize players and fans for the good of society and its youth.

BNP Paribas will mark its 50th anniversary sponsoring tennis globally and its 15th year as the title sponsor of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, with a number of efforts focused on the impact of tennis and future generations.

·       Team BNP Paribas Young Talents: A new team will be formed in the Americas in partnership with a leading tennis academy to include the most promising and deserving young tennis talents often from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program will provide human and financial support to talented young athletes on the path to professional careers. Players will be granted the opportunity to train under the direct supervision of tennis professionals and legends. The program will build on the global roster of 130 players which began in 2018 with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in France and in 2019 with John and Patrick McEnroe in the United States.

·       BNP Paribas Open Scholarship Program: For the seventh straight year, BNP Paribas will award scholarships to four deserving high school students from the local community. The Coachella Valley students will be awarded college grants at a ceremony at their school and will be recognized during an on-court presentation at the tournament on Saturday, March 18.

·       #FAAPointsForChange: BNP Paribas supports Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP World No. 9) in his commitment to a cause that is close to his heart – building a better future for youth in the West-African nation of Togo, his father’s home country. The money raised will finance the EduChange initiative which is coordinated by CARE, the non-governmental organization, to improve the conditions of young people in the Kara region of Togo. The project focuses on the protection of children’s rights, access to education and sport. Félix Auger-Aliassime has pledged to donate $5 for each point he wins and BNP Paribas will match with $15 per point.

·       #Aces4Trees: Following the devastating California wildfires of 2020, BNP Paribas launched this social media campaign. This year, BNP Paribas will team up with the American Forest Foundation to support their reforestation efforts across the United States. Two trees will be planted for every ace served throughout the tournament and an additional two trees for every share using #Aces4Trees and @bnpparibas. Tennis fans are invited to join BNP Paribas and Racquet magazine at the Exhibitor Village for an après tennis experience. This social media activation will include a mid-century Palm Springs setting and a tree installation designed with sustainably-sourced and renewable materials. 

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden and the BNP Paribas Open, one of the world’s premier tennis facilities and events respectively, remain committed to building a more “sustainable Tennis Paradise,” driving change in the community and inspiring action outside of it, and lessening the tournament’s environmental impact through waste management, energy efficiency and strategic partnerships. The BNP Paribas Open will showcase its heightened commitment to sustainability through digital transformation, comprehensive food repurposing, yearly accountability reports and the pursuit of a ‘green certification’ from accredited organizations.

Jean Yves Fillion, Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas USA, said: “Indian Wells continues to be the destination for fans to witness the highest levels of tennis championship and dedication to the sport. This year, BNP Paribas will celebrate our 50th anniversary of commitment to tennis and its social impact on future generations. I welcome all fans to join us for an exciting two weeks of world-class tennis at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open and to join us in growing the sport and its power to help society and its youth.”

BNP Paribas is the title sponsor of the BNP Paribas Open since 2009 and has leveraged its commitment to the sport in the Americas to support a wide range of social inclusion and environmental activities across the tennis world.

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