Fund-raising, Andrea soon discovered, isn't a game defined by a net and prescribed boundaries. "At one point," she says, "it was going so badly that I was using public rest rooms because there wasn't money for toilet tissue."
But then John McEnroe sent a check. Gradually, others from the tennis and entertainment worlds became involved. Cindy Crawford, who'd lost a brother to leukemia, is one. Kevin Costner, an Aspen neighbor, is another. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi have sponsored youngsters. David Robinson donated money for a chapel that's included with a ranch house - made possible by a $1.7 million gift from financier Ted Forstmann.
And the kids keep coming - 20 at a time, from hospitals around the country and across the oceans. Their destination now is known as Silver Lining Ranch.
While in the Phoenix area during the spring of 1999, Jaeger learned that Garth Brooks was at the Padres' training camp. Out to Peoria she went. "I hoped he might appear at one of our fund-raisers," she said, "but they wouldn't let me on the grounds. I was sitting on a curb outside when someone in authority came along and said, 'Aren't you that tennis player?'"
And, later said: "You should meet our owner."
That's how Andrea was introduced to John and Becky Moores. Before that day was done, John Moores had said, "We're going to help you."
That's why there's a Padres room in the ranch house at Aspen.
Last night John Moores was the presenter when Andrea Jaeger, now 34, became the first woman to receive the Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award during a dinner at La Costa Resort & Spa.
Jaeger had pinpointed this week's Acura Classic for one of her Ranch on the Road undertakings. Eight youngsters who are battling cancer at Children's Hospital have spent the last two nights in rooms at La Costa ("room service and the whole works," Andrea says), and afternoon at Sea World, and were guests of the Padres for Tuesday's game, at which one, Pete Prado, threw out the first ball.
Financial outlay is only part of Andrea Jaeger's investment. All who visit the ranch are considered family; follow-up contacts continue for as long as those young people desire, or are around to receive them.
"Losing one tears your heart out," Andrea says. "Recently, a girl who'd been at the ranch called and asked about a walkway that has the kids' handprints in it. She wanted to make certain hers was there. She's 14 years old the same age I turned pro and she was planning her funeral. I grew up in a world where you're fighting to win a tennis match, and these kids are fighting for next week."
For survivors, Andrea's ranch obviously remains a special place. One young lady, now cured, phoned the other day to say she's getting married.
"She wanted to know," says Andrea Jaeger, "if she could use the ranch for her honeymoon."
