The USTA announced that it is awarding more than $315,000 in Recreational Tennis Grants to 38 non-profit organizations across the country. The USTA’s Recreational Tennis Division has pooled financial resources to create a series of Program/Project Support grants and Community Partnership Investment awards.
One of the recipients of this grant, Pittsburgh's Highland Park Tennis Club (HPTC) was the 2009 USTA Middle States Community Tennis Association of the Year. HPTC was formed in 2003 when a group of Highland Park tennis players came together to promote interest in the game by developing programs and activities in the local community. One of the main activities of the organization is providing lessons to players at the public courts located on Stanton Avenue in Pittsburgh. Their students range in age from 10-and-under to retirees.
These will be distributed on a bi-annual basis to non-profits that are committed to increasing tennis participation, are well-established in their communities, support tennis programming and foster diversity among participants. In total, the USTA awarded over $1 million in Recreational Tennis Grants to qualified applicants in 2009.
Any non-profit organization is encouraged to apply for the grants, regardless of affiliation with the USTA. Selected organizations include Community Tennis Associations, Parks and Recreation agencies, YMCA’s and USTA NJTL Chapters. All funding recipients share a common commitment to growing the sport of tennis, with priorities on providing the QuickStart Tennis play format in their 10-and-under programming. Recipients also provide team tennis opportunities, and connect school tennis opportunities in physical education to after-school and summer tennis programs.
“The USTA is excited to invest more than $315,000 in those organizations that believe tennis can be the vehicle to improve the quality of life for both children and adults,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “Not only do these organizations support their communities, they support the USTA by implementing local programming such as the QuickStart Tennis play format and Jr. Team Tennis. We are very pleased to have organizations that show such spirit and passion for tennis and education receive this honor and the funding to help grow their programs and the sport of tennis.”
The Program/Project Support grants, awarded to organizations seeking funding to support general tennis programming, project and equipment needs, range between $2,500 and $10,000. Selected organizations are expected to match the USTA’s financial investment.