At 14 years old, Andrea Jaeger became a professional tennis player. While she loved the time she spent winning on the court, she felt driven to do something more. After years of taking the tennis world by storm, Ms. Jaeger felt a calling to give back—and immediately began putting her money where her mouth was. When she was forced to make the choice between helping children in need or furthering her professional tennis career, helping children won. Donating her tennis earnings started her award-winning ways. Today, Andrea Jaeger has raised more than $135 million to support children living with cancer and children in need and is working to double that amount.
Humanitarian Career As the Founder and President of the Little Star Foundation, Ms. Jaeger has spent more than 36 years working to provide a better life for children with cancer and children in need. The Foundation provides pediatric cancer patients, their families, and their communities with long-term care, financial assistance, therapeutic play programs, medical support, education, and outreach care programs. The Little Star Foundation also provides support to children who are living with difficult life circumstances other than a cancer diagnosis. Andrea Jaeger's work in creating Little Star Foundation has provided hope to children facing unimaginable obstacles. Some of the ways the Little Star Foundation directly impacts children with cancer and others in need include: ●
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Jeff Crawford Scholarship: Named in memory of the brother of supermodel Cindy Crawford, the Jeff Crawford Scholarship provides financial support to children with cancer who have been accepted to accredited colleges and universities. Sports, Arts, Play, and Animal Therapy Programs: Cancer takes an irreversible toll on children and their families, and experiential therapy can support a child's emotional and physical journey through cancer treatment. Through sports, art, play, and interaction with animals in a safe environment, children with cancer get to remember what it's like to simply be a kid, all while reaping the benefits of carefully designed therapeutic programs. Financial Assistance: For many families, financial concerns create additional stress during a time when they need to fully focus on their child's well-being and treatment. The Little Star Foundation provides life-saving, life-enhancing, and basic living financial aid to families in need.
In addition to her work helping children with cancer and children in need, Ms. Jaeger is also dedicated to increasing the opportunities available for athletes to receive mental health support.
Athletic Career At just 16 years old, Andrea Jaeger was the #2-ranked professional tennis player in the world. Jaeger defeated Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and every other #1-ranked player by the time she was 16. While she's widely known for her prowess on the tennis court, she's even more renowned for her commitment to giving back, as she's donated all of her prize money to helping children in need.