USTA Serves, the national charitable foundation of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), today announced that it has awarded more than $429,000 in grants to 46 community tennis and education organizations during its 2014 spring funding cycle. Eight of the recipients are in USTA Southern.
The grant recipients are chosen by a Grant Proposal Review Committee comprised of USTA Serves board members and USTA Serves national staff, with important input from USTA sections. Grants are awarded primarily to NJTL chapters that successfully combine tennis and education and help children pursue their goals and dreams by leading healthier lives and succeeding in school. To date, USTA Serves has awarded more than $13 million to programs that support its mission.
"We are proud to support some of our nation’s most successful and thriving tennis and education programs, who devote their missions toward servicing others, especially our under-served youth,” said Dan Faber, USTA Serves Executive Director. “We hope they’re able to use these grants to continue their outstanding work, and as they keep education, health and tennis in the forefront, I look forward to the impact they will have in fostering future leaders and champions.”
The bi-annual grant process, a national initiative of USTA Serves, was established to award NJTL Chapters and other organizations that provide disadvantaged, at-risk children with the opportunity to learn to play tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format. These programs also strive to help combat childhood obesity by promoting healthy lifestyles.
The following programs were awarded 2014 grants by USTA Serves:
4. A’s & Aces, Inc. – New Orleans
5. Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation – Atlanta
17. Greater Enrichment Program, Inc. – Charlotte, N.C.
18. Greensboro Tennis Foundation – Greensboro, N.C.
22. Kedila Family Learning Center – New Orleans
25. Louisville Area 10 and Under Tennis Association – Louisville, Ky.
27. Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association – Daniel Island, S.C.
41. Trident Academy, Inc. – Mount Pleasant, S.C.