BNP volunteers help serve up big bucks for local non-profits

With bright orange FILA shirts that are hard to miss, the volunteers of the BNP Paribas Open are the engine behind the tournament.

They answer questions, check tickets, and provide an all around friendly environment.

“They take vacation time from their jobs, and fly in from other cities just to volunteer, just to come for this experience,” said Judy Strobl of Oceanside, who has been volunteering for 14 years.

More than 1200 volunteers each commit six 8-hour shifts throughout the two week tournament.

“We work but we love it, we have a lot of fun because we get to see the best tennis players in the world,” Strobl said.

In exchange for their work, the tournament donates funds to the Champions Volunteer Foundation, which in turn gives the money to local non-profits.

That’s what has kept volunteer Art Slaback coming back for the last 12 years.

“Mainly it’s the donations they make to the community, that’s the biggest thing,” Slaback said.

“In years past there has been over $100,000 each year donated to the foundation,” Strobl said.

To date the foundation has served up more than $1.6 million to local programs; a token of the tournament’s appreciation for these integral members of the BNP family.

“It’s a good team effort,” Slaback said.