USTA Foundation Awards Record $4 Million in NJTL Grants
Posted: August 2, 2023 in Suppliers
USTA
PURCHASE N.Y. – The USTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the USTA, has awarded grants totaling more than $4 million to 148 National Junior Tennis & Learning chapters (NJTL) in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the largest amount awarded to date. The grants are designated to support under-resourced youth through tennis and education programs designed to give them the opportunity to improve their health, build their character and help them achieve academic excellence. In addition to these NJTL grants, the USTA Foundation awards individual player grants, scholarships and additional funding throughout the year.
Targeted towards community programs designated by the selected chapters, these grants are anticipated to support more than 126,000 youth participants across the country. In total, these chapters will offer more than 81,000 hours of education and 246,000 hours of tennis activities, which includes the creation and expansion of after-school and summer camp programs.
The tennis and education programming offered by NJTLs goal is to provide access to more kids from diverse backgrounds so they have the opportunity to access the many benefits that the sport of tennis offers. According to data from the 2022 NJTL enrollment survey, the total number of youth currently participating in NJTL programming is 42% African American, 21% Hispanic American, and 8% Asian American, representing a more diverse future for the sport of tennis. Overall, tennis participation is booming in the U.S. with a 33% increase since 2020, with people of color representing 38% of the playing population.
“The NJTL chapters across the country are the heart and soul of the USTA Foundation,” said Kathleen Wu, USTA Foundation Board President. “They bring our mission to life by providing access to programs to young people that help them fall in love with the sport, build confidence, stay physically active, and develop leadership skills that will help them succeed in every part of their lives.”
