Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation and Southern States join the relief effort
With hundreds of tennis clubs and facilities severely damaged or completely wiped out by Hurricane Katrina and thousands of people displaced, the USTA Southern Section has announced that it is donating at least $100,000 to help with tennis related relief and recovery efforts. This includes the rebuilding and repairing of damaged and/or destroyed facilities, assistance to displaced tennis professionals and the reestablishment of adult and junior USTA programs at alternate temporary sites.
“The USTA Southern Section is pleased to work in concert with the various states in the Southern Section and the USTA to provide relief and support for hurricane recovery,” commented USTA Southern Section President Jeff Gray. “We are anxious to do what we can to help reestablish a sense of normalcy in the affected areas.”
The Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation, the charitable arm of the USTA Southern Section, also announced that it will contribute $15,000 to the relief effort, with a good portion of the money going to junior tennis players who, because of Katrina, need assistance traveling to tournaments or need replacement equipment.
“These are our southern states,” explained Barbara Brewer, Chairman of the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation. “The USTA members in the affected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are a part of the Southern tennis family.”
The states that make up the USTA Southern Section have also expressed an interest in participating in the relief efforts.
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