Albuquerque has fourteen days until the first serve of the third annual CRC Memorial Tennis Tournament. On Saturday, October 24, players, volunteers, sponsors, families and mental-health advocates will gather at Jerry Cline Tennis Center for a full day built around competition, remembrance and community action.
The tournament exists because one family and one community chose to turn loss into service. Serve It Up for Life raises funds for Breaking the Silence New Mexico, a statewide nonprofit that uses education and personal stories to build mental-health literacy and challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide. Across the tournament’s first two years, the event raised $41,000. The 2026 campaign is an opportunity to extend that impact.
You do not need to be a tournament player to participate. Tennis players can register through the event’s USTA page. Businesses can select sponsorship levels beginning at $250. Individuals can donate. Volunteers can help with registration, setup, photography, player support, sponsor hospitality, social media and other event needs. Supporters can also make a meaningful contribution simply by sharing the tournament with their own networks.
That last action matters. Local charity events grow when people hear about them from someone they already know. A post from a player can reach a tennis partner. A sponsor can reach employees and customers. A teacher can reach families. A club can reach dozens of players. A single share can move the tournament beyond its existing audience and into the broader Albuquerque community.
The 2026 fundraising page connects sponsorship to tangible educational impact. It reports that $5,000 can support 40 sessions of two Talking Mental Health lessons across 20 classrooms, reaching a minimum of 400 students. This year’s proceeds also support BTSNM’s Youth Advisory Group for teens ages 15 to 18 and educational scholarships for graduating seniors.
The next fourteen days therefore have a simple challenge: make October 24 visible everywhere. If you play tennis, register. If you lead a company, sponsor. If you believe in the mission, donate. If you have time, volunteer. If none of those fit, share the story with someone who can act.
Albuquerque has already proven what can happen when a community rallies around this event. The next chapter begins with one serve, one conversation and one decision to participate. Join us October 24 at Jerry Cline Tennis Center and help Serve It Up for Life.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a mental-health crisis, call or text 988. In an immediate life-threatening emergency, contact emergency services.
