The 2020 grant cycle for the USTA Florida Section Foundation, the giving arm of USTA Florida, will close Oct. 31st – giving you less than one month to request the support you need for your late 2020 and early 2021 tennis programs.
Grants from the USTA Florida Section Foundation offer funding for youth tennis programs, adaptive tennis programs, community tennis programs in economically challenged areas, along with facility assistance in the renovation, refurbishment and building of quality public tennis facilities.
The Board of Directors for the USTA Florida Section Foundation made the collective decision earlier this year to keep the 2020 grant cycle open from Feb. 1 through Oct. 31, 2020, due to the impact COVID-19 has had on providers, facilities, and programs across the state.
“Our Board recognized that it would be difficult to maintain any program in the COVID-19 environment,” said Alexis Johnson, Executive Director of the USTA Florida Section Foundation. “Our goal has been to provide support to grassroots community tennis organizations struggling with programming.”
So far in 2020, the USTA Florida Section Foundation has had a community impact of $90,257. As of this writing:
- $53,276 has been distributed in COVID Facility Relief Grants (out of the $100,000 announced)
- $18,448 has been awarded in Program Support Grants
- $11,946 has been awarded in Equipment Grants
- $6,585 has been awarded in Wheelchair Grants
“As programs begin to normalize in late 2020 and early 2021, we know our support will be needed,” added Johnson. “In order to prepare for that very near future, we encourage organizations that support people of all ages and abilities through tennis to apply for our grants before this cycle closes.”
Besides making an impact investment, you can support Florida recreational grassroots tennis with the purchase of a “Play Tennis!” license plate or by signing-up for the RoundUp App, where 100 percent of the change received from rounding-up your purchases goes straight back into the communities needing it the most through grant award opportunities.
ABOUT THE USTA FLORIDA SECTION FOUNDATION
With a mission of “Changing Lives through Tennis,” the USTA Florida Section Foundation provides financial support to organizations that help people of all ages and abilities improve their health and quality of life through the great game of tennis. Since 2005, The USTA Florida Section Foundation has had a community impact of more than $1,600,000 through equipment and financial support for community tennis programs throughout Florida. To learn more about the USTA Florida Section Foundation visit www.USTAFloridaFoundation.com.
