Maria Sharapova Launches Scholarships Progammes

Maria Sharapova Launches Scholarships Progammes In Belarus

Maria Sharapova announced today that she is launching a $210,000 scholarship programme for students from Chernobyl-affected areas of Belarus. The programme is a joint initiative of the Maria Sharapova Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she serves as Goodwill Ambassador. The scholarships will enable 12 talented young people from Chernobyl-affected regions to follow a full course of studies at two leading universities in Belarus.

Sharapova’s foundation has already contributed $100,000 to youth-oriented projects in the regions of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Maria Sharapova was expected to travel to Belarus to launch the scholarship programme in person this month, but was forced to postpone her visit in order to receive medical treatment for a shoulder injury. Her visit is now planned for 2009.

“It has always been my dream to contribute to the recovery of a region where I have a personal connection,” said Maria. “Enabling talented young people to pursue higher education is part of a broader effort to build a brighter future for the region.”

“UNDP is honoured to count Maria Sharapova among its Goodwill Ambassadors,” commented Kemal Dervi?, UNDP Administrator. “Her engagement helps to convey a message of optimism to young people in a once-blighted region where a return to normal life is now a realistic prospect.”

The Maria Sharapova Foundation Scholarship for Youth from the Chernobyl-Affected Areas of Belarus will award five-year scholarships consisting of annual cash grants to 12 students at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and the Belarusian State University.
Three incoming students will be awarded scholarships each year, over an initial four-year period. It is the first instance in Belarus in which an international non-government organization will provide support of this type to education. The first scholarship recipients will begin their studies in September 2009.

Information from Maria Sharapova Website
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Tour Introduces "Challenge Your Hero" Video Platform

Tour Introduces “Challenge Your Hero” Video Platform

Did you ever dreamed about playing tennis with one of the top women players???

What if I tell you that now you have the chance to make that dream come true??? … well, at least virtually… If you have a video of yourself playing tennis then you can play against Jelena jankovic, Dinara Safina, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic…

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced the launch of ChallengeYourHero.com, a website designed for fans to mix videos of themselves matching up to the forehands, backhands, volleys and serves of some of the greatest women’s tennis players in the world.

Your video could be picked for the top prize, a trip to see these amazing athletes compete in the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Qatar!
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Maria Sharapova Wins ESPY Award 2008

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 19, 2008 – Maria Sharapova is not only a tennis player but now she also known as celebrity. She always nominate for ‘Best International Female Athlete’ and ‘Best Female Tennis Player’.  She attended the ESPY awards party held last night in Los Angeles. She was nominated for ‘Best Female Tennis Player’ and she won this title again. This is her Third ESPY Award  and second consecutive title from ESPY Award; before she collect this title on July 11, 2007, the ESPY awards pre party held at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Adorned in a sexy black leather dress and matching stilettos, the former world number one was joined by fellow tennis star Serena Williams. Where Maria was nominated for two awards: ‘Best International Female Athlete’ and ‘Best Female Tennis Player’. This time Maria won the ESPY for best tennis player over finalists Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic.  The ESPYS are decided by fan voting.

The show, taped at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and hosted by Timberlake, will air on ESPN this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. EST.

For more information please visit=http://mariasharapova.webng.com/

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