MUMBAI: The organisers of the Aircel Chennai Open have announced that Magic Bus India Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that steers underprivileged children towards a better life with better awareness, life skills, and opportunities, is the official charity partner of the tournament. This is the first year Magic Bus is partnering with the event.

Through the association, Magic Bus will execute the sport for development programme in Chennai in 2015 for underprivileged children, financed out of the ATP Aces for charity grant. The ATP Aces for charity is a global initiative aimed at giving back to communities where ATP World Tour events are played, and supporting tournament and player charitable activities, which focus on causes from education to youth and community services to health and fitness.

Last month, the NGO organised its 2014 benefit during which the Open sold its premium VIP seats to Magic Bus to help raise money for charity. During an event organised at the Stadium’s Centre Court, ATP Supervisor Mark Darby, presented a cheque of $15,000 to founder and executive chairman Matthew Spacie. The proceeds will be used by Magic Bus to enrol 1,000 underprivileged children across Chennai into the Magic Bus sport for development programme.

Magic Bus will invite 350 children enrolled in Magic Bus programmes in Chennai to participate in the Kid’s tennis clinic and witness centre court matches to expose children to the sport.

Magic Bus founder and executive chairman Matthew Spacie said, “Through a number of programmes in partnership with the tournament and the ATP, we hope to give millions of children living in poverty the opportunity to control the way they view the world, the freedom to choose the role they will play in it, and the power to define their own destiny.”

IMG Reliance chief operating officer Ashu Jindal commented, “We are happy to enter into a meaningful partnership with Magic Bus India Foundation and look forward to using the platform that the Aircel Chennai Open gives us to make a positive difference to the lives of the underprivileged in India. We welcome Magic Bus into the ACO family today.”