Florida Tennis Briefs: 23 Grants to Comm. Orgs.; One-on-One Doubles

23 Community Tennis Programs Receive $25,000 from USTA Florida Section Foundation

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Across Florida in October, more than $25,000 in grants were awarded to city parks and recreation, 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 Apopka, Bradenton, Deland (three grants), Deltona, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Niceville, Ocala (three grants), Orlando (two grants), Ormond Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Coast, Ponte Vedra, Tallahassee (two grants), Tampa, and West Palm Beach.

A grant to the Miami Children’s Initiative for tennis equipment for K-8 at-risk youth is getting kids on age-appropriate courts with youth-sized equipment at the Charles R. Drew Center.

“We are in the early stages of our youth tennis education programming and this award directly impacts our ability to deliver highly-impactful enrichment activities that many of our youth would not have an opportunity to experience otherwise,” said the Miami Children’s Initiative’s Ieshia Haynie. “It has been a great pleasure working with [USTA Florida staff and volunteer] Cathy Nordlund and Susan Allshouse in deepening the ways in which we engage with the young learners in our yearlong after-school and summer programming.”

The Palm Beach Gardens organization “Love Serving Autism” is getting kids playing tennis as part of their after-school program at the Palm Beach School for Autism.

“The equipment grant for the after-school tennis program at the Palm Beach School for Autism means a lot to me and is greatly appreciated,” said Love Serving Autism Founder & CEO Lisa Pugliese.

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 October:

APOPKA — Rock Springs Elementary
Grant: tennis equipment grant to provide tennis as part of the Physical Education curriculum and after-school program.

BRADENTON — T.E.A.M. Junior Tennis
Grant: to support the tennis, education and mentoring program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs in the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

DELAND — Victoria Park
Grant: tennis equipment grant for Kurt Collis Tennis for Life program.

DELAND — David E. Disney Tennis Center
Grant: tennis equipment grant for Kurt Collis Tennis for Life program.

DELAND — DeLand Middle School
Grant: Funding for an inclusive Kids Tennis Club after school.

DELTONA — Wes Crile Park
Grant: tennis equipment grant for Kurt Collis Tennis for Life program at Wes Crile Park.

GAINESVILLE — Lake Forest Elementary School
Grant: tennis equipment for incorporating tennis into the Physical Education curriculum.

JACKSONVILLE — City of Jacksonville
Grant: equipment for a 10 and Under Tennis programs at Bruce Park, Scott Park and Pine Forest Park.

MIAMI — Miami Children’s Initiative
Grant: tennis equipment to provide tennis education for at-risk youth at the Charles R. Drew K-8 Center.

NICEVILLE — Bluewater Bay Tennis Center
Grant: equipment grant for carnival, Play Days and ongoing Junior Development Program.

OCALA — South Ocala Elementary
Grant: tennis equipment for incorporating tennis into the Physical Education curriculum.

OCALA — Greenway Elementary School
Grant: tennis equipment for incorporating tennis into the Physical Education curriculum.

OCALA — Fessenden Elementary School
Grant: tennis equipment for incorporating tennis into the Physical Education curriculum.

ORLANDO — Southwest Middle School
Grant: tennis equipment grant to provide tennis as part of the Physical Education curriculum and after-school program.

ORLANDO — Central Florida Tennis Association
Grant: equipment grant for a Tenis Para Todos (Tennis for Everyone) program at the Fort Gatlin Tennis Center.

ORMOND BEACH — Greater Volusia Tennis Network
Grant: equipment for the start-up of the POP Tennis Program to be offered at Plantation Bay Tennis Club, and introduced to additional tennis clubs and area elementary schools.

PALM BEACH GARDENS — Love Serving Autism
Grant: tennis equipment for the after-school program at the Palm Beach School for Autism.

PALM COAST — Belle Terre Swim & Racquet Club
Grant: equipment for youth, family and Masters Tennis programs.

PONTE VEDRA — Nocatee Community Park
Grant: funding to start a 10 and Under Tennis program in the Nocatee community.

TALLAHASSEE — Conley Elementary School
Grant: tennis equipment for incorporating tennis into the Physical Education curriculum.

TALLAHASSEE — City of Tallahassee Parks & Recreation
Grant: tennis equipment to provide tennis at the Palmer Munroe Teen Center.

TAMPA — Universal Academy of Florida
Grant: tennis equipment grant to provide tennis as part of the Physical Education curriculum and after-school program.

WEST PALM BEACH — Bow Down, Inc.
Grant: equipment for tennis as part of the Twins Lakes Outreach plan.

“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 @Onein4000 campaign and get your “Play Tennis!” license plate 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.

Boynton Beach, Naples to Host One-on-One Doubles

Known as “the third game of tennis” alongside singles and doubles, players will get a chance to try the fun, cross-court singles game on Nov. 18, 2016 when the Valencia Reserve Tennis Facility in Boynton Beach, Fla., hosts a One-on-One Doubles Tournament.

The Open Prize Money format will be held from 6-10 p.m. with $500 to the winner. The entry fee of $30 include snacks and refreshments as well as music.

“As is customary with the tournaments, rock ‘n’ roll, blues and funk will be played throughout the tournament’s matches,” says organizer Ed Krass. “Entry is free to the public.”

One-On-One Doubles will also hold its 12th annual Prize Money Tournament at the ITA Coaches Convention at Naple Grande Resort on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 6-9 p.m. The entry fee is $30 and the event is open to all college coaches registering for the convention.

“Past winners include Ryler Deheart, associate head men’s tennis coach at FSU, who won a main draw match at the US Open before losing to Rafael Nadal,” Krass said. “Players should also mark their calendars for Feb. 25th of next year when Suntree Country Club in Melbourne will host a prize money One-on-One Doubles Tournament.”

Former One-on-One Doubles Tournament winners include past ATP stars Mikael Pernfors, Jared Palmer, Robert Kendrick and Ashley Fisher.

To enter the Boynton Beach event or for more info click here. For more info on upcoming One-on-One Doubles Tournament events go to www.oneononedoubles.com.