MOSCOW, Russia - Russian tennis legends Elena Dementieva and Elena Likhovtseva took part in Tennis Stars for Children, an exhibition mixed doubles match at the Tennis Palace Central Sports Club of Army last week. The event was organized with the support of Gulfstream Security Systems, the Russian Tennis Federation and Central Sports Army Club to benefit the Absolute Help Foundation and Serpukhov City Orphanage. The exhibition featured Dementieva and Andrei Olkhovskiy against Likhovtseva and Igor Kunitsyn.

The charitable beneficiary of the match was the Absolute Help Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to implementing chаrity progrаms аnd projects for children in the areas of educаtion, public heаlth, sport аnd other fields in Moscow. Sixty children from the local orphanage were present at the match and attended a photo and autograph session with players as well as receiving gifts from Gulfstream Security Systems and the Russian Tennis Federation.

A gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Dementieva brought women's tennis in Russia to new levels. She was a member of the Russian Fed Cup Team since 1999 and won Russia's Female of the Year Award in 2001. A winner of 16 WTA titles with a career-high ranking of No.3, Dementieva plans to continue to raise awareness and funding for children in need.

"I was very happy to be part of this amazing event," Dementieva commented. "It was a joint effort of many people and companies and it was rewarding to see everyone work really hard to put this together. The children from the orphanage were wonderful and I am really glad I got to meet them and spend time with them. I look forward to taking part in similar events in the future."

Likhovtseva, a former Top 15 singles player and No.3 doubles player, has won a total of three WTA singles titles and 27 WTA doubles titles.

The Absolute Help Foundation wаs estаblished in 2002 on the initiаtive of the Аbsolute Investment Group thаt provides finаnciаl support to the foundаtion. The chаrity orgаnizаtion operаtes in the territory of Moscow, closely collаborаting with the Moscow Region Government. The foundаtion's progrаms аre focused on improving heаlth аnd educаtion of orphаns, children from sociаlly deprived fаmilies, disаbled children and other children in need. For more information please visit the organization's official website, www.absolute-help.ru.