ORLANDO, FLA., September 3, 2026 – Eleven Floridians have been named recipients of the inaugural 35 x 35 President’s Impact Award, a new national honor recognizing individuals and organizations whose work has driven the growth of tennis over the past two years. The honorees were recognized at the 2026 US Open and invited to the President’s Suite during Fan Week as part of the celebration.
The President’s Impact Award supports the USTA’s 35 x 35 strategic initiative, which aims to make the United States the world’s leading tennis-playing nation by growing the tennis-playing population to 35 million by 2035. The initiative focuses on expanding the availability of quality coaching at all levels, maximizing court availability and supporting the next generation of players.
The award recognizes meaningful impact at the national, sectional and community levels, whether through introducing a new player to the game, supporting local programs or volunteering countless hours.
“The growth of tennis happens every day in communities across the country because of people who care deeply about our sport and work tirelessly to share it with others,” said Brian Vahaly, USTA President and Chairman of the Board, in announcing the national recipients.
Florida’s 2026 President’s Impact Award honorees are:
- Michael Napoleone (Wellington) – Mayor of the Village of Wellington and a parks and recreation advocate for more than a decade. During his tenure the Village replaced an aging 18-court facility with a 21-court clay complex, fully lighted and equipped with HydroCourt subsurface irrigation.
- Wendy Refram Tatum (Palm Beach Gardens) – Director of the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center, where she has led program growth, coach and player mentorship, and community development at one of the state’s leading public facilities.
- James Champion (Miami) – A supporter of First Serve Miami for more than 30 years, at Moore Park and more than 20 additional South Florida sites. The program combines tennis with after-school academic and life skills instruction for more than 1,500 children.
- Nancy Darr (Alachua County) – Volunteer administrator of the website serving every day league in Alachua and Marion counties, managing score reporting and captain support across the region.
- Rob Perry (St. Petersburg) – Founder of Sowing Seeds Tennis, which for nearly 20 years has paired tennis instruction with academics and life skills through after-school and summer camp programming.
- Dennis Quaye (Broward County) – Co-founder and executive director of Dennis Tennis Serving Love, an NJTL chapter and community tennis association. Over the past two years the organization has introduced more than 1,500 youth and families to tennis through free clinics, equipment distribution and community partnerships.
- Rafael Rosas (Orlando) – Director of tennis at Gooding Todero Academy, where he has expanded junior participation across all levels and led bilingual outreach to Spanish-speaking families.
- David Russell (Broward County) – An RSPA-certified teaching professional and founding board member of Dennis Tennis Serving Love, providing on-court instruction, mentorship and program leadership that has reached hundreds of youth through free programs and equipment distribution.
- Garrick Adams (Miami) – Owner of Fetch, which creates accessible play opportunities in Miami through clinics, social events, leagues and youth programming.
- Jim Tierney (Deerfield Beach) – Adaptive coach at Deerfield Beach Tennis Center and a longtime volunteer in USTA Florida wheelchair tennis, contributing to the Delray Beach Open Wheelchair Tennis Showcase, Community Coach trainings and the Abilities Expo.
- Ed Weiner (Ponte Vedra Beach) – Built the tennis program and facility serving the Nocatee and Ponte Vedra area, introducing the clinics and leagues that continue to operate following his retirement as full-time coach and program director.
Florida’s honorees reflect the range of people who move the sport forward, from municipal leaders expanding court access to coaches introducing the game to children who have never held a racquet. USTA Florida continues to invest in that work through public park support, facility grants and the USTA Florida Community Coach Program.
To learn more about getting involved, visit ustaflorida.com/volunteer or explore the case for public court investment at ustaflorida.com/tennis-advocacy.
Posted by:
