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The Australian Open has named three official charities for 2008, each of which will help improve the lives of young people in Australia in unique and important ways.

The three official charities are: the Bone Growth Foundation (which provides infrastructure and funds research into children’s bone growth problems); United Way (which raises funds to support disadvantaged young Australians through grassroots mentoring programs); and the Kids Tennis Foundation (the only dedicated tennis charity in Australia that introduces disadvantaged kids to the Wonderful World of Tennis).

In addition to the traditional Australian Open Charity Day on the middle Sunday of the tournament, other charity-specific fundraising opportunities will be held throughout the coming months.

The Bone Growth Foundation's mission is to fund pioneering research into the structure of the bone growth plate and its role in the growth and repair of children's bones.

Through this research the Foundation hopes to one day make a difference to the quality of life of almost a quarter of a million young people in Australia alone.

Dr Bruce Foster, chairman of the Bone Growth Foundation, said, "In publishing and sharing our research we aim to bring the best possible treatments to Australian children and ultimately help children with crippling growth problems all over the world."

United Way is an international network of not-for-profit organisations dedicated to meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged in our community. The United Way guiding principle is that people in a community can come together, pool resources, and work collectively to deal with compelling issues in a way that is more powerful than any one individual or entity alone. Last year United Way distributed more than $7.2 million to charities right across Australia.

Kirsten Bickendorf from United Way Community Funds of Australia, said, “United Way is proud to partner with Tennis Australia. Together we are working to make a real difference in the community.

“Last year we provided scholarships, mentors and camps to disadvantaged young people. We are excited at how the Tennis Australia community program is developing, the impact we have made and our ongoing commitment to improve the lives of many young people.”

Kids Tennis Foundation is a unique Australian charity providing coaching for financially and socially disadvantaged children. Since its inception 24 years ago, the charity has coached close to 250,000 children across Australia, an achievement of which Kids Tennis Foundation is very proud indeed.

Susie Norton, chief executive officer of Kids Tennis Foundation, said, “Kids Tennis Foundation is truly delighted and ever so grateful to be a beneficiary of the Australian Open Charitable Fund in 2008.

“Thanks to the generosity of Tennis Australia, through the Australian Open and the fans who support it, many thousands of disadvantaged children around Australia will now be able to receive tennis coaching on a regular weekly basis, not to mention the boost to their self-esteem and self-confidence.”