As the US Open captures global attention, the USTA Foundation is making a powerful move to grow the sport where it matters most, local communities. The newly launched Community Impact Hub program will support youth tennis and education in ten key markets across the country, including two in Florida. The MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation in Jacksonville and the Sloane Stephens Foundation in Fort Lauderdale.
These Florida National Junior Tennis & Learning chapters will serve as anchors for growth, mentorship, and opportunity. Each has a strong track record of using tennis to reach under-resourced youth, combining sport with academic support and life skills development. Now, with additional resources and national recognition, they’re positioned to expand their reach and deepen their impact.
The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation has been a cornerstone of youth development in Jacksonville for years. Through tennis, tutoring, and leadership programs, they’ve helped thousands of kids build confidence and stay on track academically. In Fort Lauderdale, the Sloane Stephens Foundation continues to impact thousands of underserved students with additional tools necessary to achieve in and out of the classroom.
The Community Impact Hub program is part of the USTA Foundation’s broader mission to reach 35 million players by 2035. With participation in tennis rising, these hubs will help meet growing demand and ensure that kids in underserved areas have access to high-quality programming and support.
Each year, more than 170,000 kids across the country benefit from USTA Foundation programs. In Florida, the new hubs will strengthen that pipeline, offering consistent programming, community partnerships, and a pathway to opportunity through tennis.
This initiative is about more than growing the sport, it’s about changing lives. Tennis has always been more than a game and with these new hubs in Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Florida is helping lead the way to a better tennis for all
