School Tennis, After-School Programs Receive $7,000 from USTA Florida Section Foundation

Seven Florida community tennis organizations, K-12 schools or after-school programs, received grants totaling more than $7,000 in the month of September from the USTA Florida Section Foundation, the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association-Florida Section (USTA Florida).

Recipients of grants were schools or organizations in Ft. McCoy, High Springs, Jacksonville, Monticello, New Smyrna Beach and Orlando.

“We are very fortunate that the revenue from our Play Tennis specialty license plate provides the funding for all of our grants,” says Foundation Executive Director Linda Curtis. “Without our grants program, many of our Florida schools and nonprofit organizations would never have the funding to provide the necessary age-appropriate tennis equipment that is so important for the children’s overall development.”

USTA Florida Section Foundation grants offer funding for youth tennis programs, adaptive tennis programs for those with special needs, community tennis programs in economically challenged areas, along with facility assistance in the renovation, refurbishment and building of quality public tennis facilities.

Since 2010, USTA Florida and the USTA Florida Section Foundation have awarded more than $1,000,000 in grants for tennis programs serving people of all ages and abilities throughout Florida.

USTA Florida Section Foundation grants in September:

FT. MCCOY — Ft. McCoy School
Grant: Equipment grant for incorporating tennis in the Physical Education curriculum.

HIGH SPRINGS — High Springs Community School
Grant: Equipment grant for incorporating tennis in the Physical Education curriculum.

JACKSONVILLE — Malivai Washington Kids Foundation
Grant: Tennis equipment for the Candyland Open, and for the spring/summer 2017 after-school tennis programs.

MONTICELLO — Jefferson County Middle/High School
Grant: Equipment grant for incorporating tennis in the Physical Education curriculum.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — New Smyrna Beach Middle School
Grant: Equipment grant for incorporating tennis in the Physical Education curriculum.

ORLANDO — Blankner K-8 School
Grant: Equipment grant for incorporating tennis in the Physical Education curriculum.

ORLANDO — P.A.L. of Orlando
Grant: For “Sunshine Gangs Surge the Bridge,” an equipment grant for the at-risk youth program at the John Jackson Community Center.

The USTA Florida Section Foundation’s mission is “Changing Lives Through Tennis,” providing financial support through organizational grants that help Floridians of all ages and abilities improve their health and quality of life through the game of tennis. It is the USTA Florida Foundation’s belief that tennis provides opportunities for healthy social, emotional, physical and educational development, and encourages peer and family participation.

For more information on individual grants, or for more information on the USTA Florida Section Foundation go to www.ustafloridafoundation.com.