USTA Foundation Campaign Reaches $10 Million in Donations for NJTLs
Posted: January 31, 2022 in Suppliers
USTA
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The USTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association Incorporated (USTA), raised more than $10 million in 2021, the first year of the Foundation’s three-year, $20 million Rally for the Future campaign. With approximately $6 million of those funds already distributed to support National Tennis & Learning chapters (NJTL) to support under-resourced youth through free or low-cost tennis and education programs, additional funds will continue to be utilized for ongoing programming including NJTL chapters, grants and scholarships. The USTA Foundation funded more than $441,000 in scholarships for 47 student leaders in 2021.
The USTA Foundation also experienced a 14% growth in NJTL chapters last year with 35 new NJTLs servicing 26,238 youth participants. This expansion brings the total number of NJTLs to more than 285 chapters in 42 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“These NJTL chapters, along with the grants and scholarships awarded by the USTA Foundation, are life-changing for many children,” said USTA Foundation President Kathleen Wu who announced the Foundation’s most ambitious fundraising campaign last May. “The growth of these NJTL chapters indicate the importance of providing physical fitness, education and leadership opportunities for the next generation. We are grateful to the sponsors and donors who share and support our mission.”
More than $3 million of the 2021 tally was raised during the US Open through a record-breaking USTA Foundation Gala on Opening Night and through other fundraising efforts. The Rally for the Future fundraising campaign continues towards the $20 million target by 2023 to support planning and building the future strength of NJTL chapters.
“USTA Foundation sponsors, donors, board members, and the entire NJTL network rose to significant challenges in 2021 and exceeded all expectations. Most importantly, every NJTL chapter has continued to operate since the start of the pandemic two years ago,” said Dan Faber, Executive Director, USTA Foundation. “We are committed to building on our successes in 2022 with our Rally for the Future campaign to provide thousands of underserved children with essential support, physical activity, and academic support in communities nationwide.”
The USTA Foundation had many unique highlights in 2021 through these key programs, scholarships and endeavors:
- Carol Kimmelman Athletic and Academic Campus: Through this endeavor, the USTA Foundation helped launch National Day of Learning, a free virtual event featuring panels and speaker spotlights that aimed to enrich the learning experience for the many kids across the country who faced many challenges in the 2021 academic year due to the pandemic. The Foundation engaged with over 50,000 students through participating organizations like KIPP Charter Schools, 300 additional high schools, and NJTL chapters.
- 2021 College Scholarships: Each year, the USTA Foundation awards college scholarships to deserving high school seniors that show excellence both on and off the court. In 2021, the USTA Foundation granted over $441,000 in scholarships to 47 students. As part of the collaboration with the award-winning movie, King Richard, the USTA Foundation gave a scholarship to a rising star of Chicago-based NJTL, XS Tennis. This scholarship was presented by the movie’s star actor, Will Smith, during a community event.
- NJTL/Collegiate Partnerships: In 2021, the USTA Foundation, through the USTA’s Collegiate Community Hub programs, partnered local NJTL chapters with 12 universities across the country and used their state of the art facilities for tennis and education programs. Some of these universities include: Michigan State University, University of Arizona, University of South Carolina, University of Alabama, St. Thomas University, to name a few. The USTA Foundation will look to continue to grow this program in 2022 so more NJTL youth can have the opportunity to see first-hand what the powerful combination of tennis and education can do for their future.
- USTA Foundation Excellence Program: Washington, D.C. native Robin Montgomery became the first player in 17 years, and first American since 1992, to win both the junior girls’ singles and doubles titles at the 2021 US Open. Montgomery began her tennis journey at the Junior Tennis Champions’ Center (JTCC), an NJTL based in College Park, Md. She was also a thriving member of the USTA Foundation Excellence Team and received financial support through the USTA Foundation’s individual player grants. The Excellence Team members are NJTL youth, chosen based on their elite level of tennis ability, educational outcomes and commitment to the pathway to become student-athletes at the collegiate and professional levels.
In 2022, the USTA Foundation will expand on the success of year one of the Rally for the Future campaign and will continue to fund nationwide programs such as NJTL Excellence Teams, grants, scholarships, programming and much more. Additionally, South Florida and Southern California will be two priority markets with the Miami Outreach and the Carol Kimmelman Athletic and Academic Campus opening, respectively. Additional information on 2022 programs and initiatives to be announced throughout the year.
