The Fayette

County Council on Domestic Violence has found a new

sponsor to help in its ongoing efforts to raise both

money and awareness for its cause.

The

Peachtree City Tennis Center and Peachtree National Bank

announced a partnership with the council during a

luncheon Monday at Shadows in Peachtree City, with

proceeds from this summer's drkoop.com Women's Tennis

Championship at the Tennis Center earmarked for

contribution to the council.

The

tournament, now in its sixth year, raised $3,700 last

year for the Harris Foundation. Since then, the Harris

Foundation has established a fund directly through

Scottish Rite, according to Tennis Center director Virgil

Christian, and is no longer operating locally.

"We

wanted to go with a local foundation," said

Christian.

As proceeds

have gone up every year, Christian has a goal of $5,000

for this July's event.

"It's

not just about the money," he said. "It's also

to help get their message out to the community here. It's

[domestic violence] growing, unfortunately."

The pro

tournament at the Tennis Center has raised money for

charity every year of its existence, starting with the

local cystic fibrosis foundation from 1995-97. The Harris

Foundation has been the recipient the past two years.

Peachtree

National Bank has been the tournament's primary sponsor

and is the official local host.

"On

behalf of the Fayette County Council on Domestic

Violence, let me thank the Tennis Center and Peachtree

National for selecting FCCDV as their partner," said

council director of development Susan De Bonis.

"The

FCCDV operates entirely without state and federal funding

and our local municipal funding is limited," she

continued. "Nonetheless, every year we try to help

every person who comes our way, all on an annual budget

of $150,000."

The council

reported assisting 330 clients, including six men, in

1999. This is an increase from previous years, and the

projection for 2000 is more than 400.

The council

offers a 24-hour crisis line, legal advocacy, a weekly

support group, a food pantry, a transitional housing

program, referral and crisis counseling. One of the more

successful programs is the teen dating/violence program,

presented in every ninth grade health class in Fayette

County public schools.

Also

offered is the Lunch and Learn program for businesses,

where managers are shown how to assist employees

experiencing domestic violence and how to protect the

work place when violence follows the employee to work.

"To be

successful with our programs, we need the help of

organizations like the Tennis Center and Peachtree

National," said De Bonis. "We intend to be a

full partner with them. You will see representatives from

FCCDV at all of the functions and we will be available to

our partners to help wherever needed."