8 Community Tennis Programs Receive $29,000 in Grants from USTA Florida Section Foundation

Approximately $29,000 in grants across Florida in November were awarded to police athletic leagues, schools, junior programs, after-school programs, tennis centers and tennis associations from the USTA Florida Section Foundation, the official giving arm of the United States Tennis Association-Florida Section (USTA Florida).

Recipients of grants were organizations or programs in Belleview, Clearwater Beach, Fort Pierce, Gainesville, North Miami Beach, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Vero Beach.

A grant to the Gainesville Area Community Tennis Association’s (GACTA) Aces in Motion program will allow for the expansion of the Special Olympics/Adaptive Tennis Program, benefiting those with developmental disabilities through tennis.

“We are very grateful for this grant award as it will help our adaptive program to expand considerably this year,” said the GACTA’s Anne Koterba.

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 November:

Belleview — Belleview Santos Elementary School
Grant: Tennis equipment grant for incorporating tennis in the Physical Education curriculum.

Clearwater Beach — Global Community Tennis Association Inc.
Grant: Tennis equipment for the year-round after-school tennis programs in Clearwater, Lealman and Tarpon Springs.

Fort Pierce — Serving Dreams Tennis and Education, Inc.
Grant: Program support grant for the First Serve Outreach Program targeting at-risk youth in high crime areas of St. Lucie County.

Gainesville — Gainesville Area Community Tennis Association’s Aces in Motion program
Grant: Program support grant to expand the Aces in Motion Special Olympics/Adaptive Tennis Program, benefiting those with developmental disabilities through tennis.

North Miami Beach — Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center
Grant: Tennis equipment for the After-School Tennis and Junior Team Tennis programs.

Sarasota — Buddy Up Tennis, Inc.
Grant: Tennis equipment to expand the Buddy Up Tennis program to Orlando and Tampa.

St. Petersburg — Pinellas County Sheriff’s PAL, Inc.
Grant: Program support grant to the PAL Youth After School Tennis Program, focusing on at-risk youth by providing tennis and academic support.

Vero Beach — The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation
Grant: Program support for Kids on Court tennis, and the Kids in Motion enrichment programs.

“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 childrens’ overall development.”

Check out the One in 4000 campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@onein4000 or #onein4000) to find out how your “Play Tennis!” license plate helps to support growing recreational tennis in Florida.

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.