The City of Tallahassee is making strides in growing youth tennis, thanks to an Equipment Grant from the USTA Florida Foundation. This support has allowed the city to expand its youth tennis programs and provide better opportunities for players, especially those in underserved communities. 

One of the primary initiatives supported by the grant is the Junior Team Tennis (JTT) program. The city organized a successful Jamboree to encourage sign-ups, which saw a great turnout and generated enthusiasm among the young tennis players. The JTT program has been instrumental in creating a structured environment where juniors can learn and compete. 

The city also has the Love Serving Autism (LSA) program, which has benefited from the grant. This program caters to children with autism, offering them safe and supportive surroundings to learn and enjoy tennis. The City of Tallahassee hosted two Jamborees with 20 participants, which were well-received by the community. This helped grow their spring and fall weekly classes, which have an average of 10 students per week. These classes are provided free of charge, making tennis accessible to all. Notably, Love Serving Autism is the only autism-specific sports program in Tallahassee, highlighting its importance and unique role in the community. The program is run once per week, with a larger Jamboree event every two months, providing consistent opportunities for children with autism to engage in sports and social interaction. 

The City of Tallahassee also runs Special Olympics tennis classes every couple of weeks at the Winthrop Park tennis courts. This program has more than 70 kids, providing them with the opportunity to learn tennis in a supportive environment tailored to their needs.  

“While most every country club and tennis program in Tallahassee focuses on high-performance players, we are the only entity that provides instruction and classes for the above-mentioned groups,” a city spokesperson said.  

The equipment grant has helped these programs, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. With programs halted or scaled back, participation took a huge hit. The equipment grant from the USTA Florida Foundation has been instrumental in revitalizing these programs, helping them to recover and grow. By providing much-needed resources, the grant has enabled the city to reach more children and create sustainable, long-term programs that foster a love for tennis. 

The city also organizes special events to promote tennis, such as the Springtime Tallahassee festival, TTA Jamboree, and the Tallahassee Challenger Kids Day. These events have been successful in drawing attention to the sport, encouraging participation, and building a sense of community among local tennis enthusiasts. They provide platforms for children to showcase their skills, interact with peers, and enjoy the social aspects of the sport. 

With continued support from organizations like the USTA Florida Foundation, the City of Tallahassee aims to keep expanding its reach, ensuring that tennis is accessible to every child who wishes to play. 

To help aid these grants, you can donate to the Foundation in multiple ways. The USTA Florida Foundation “Play Tennis” License Plate is a great chance to show your tennis pride, with 90% of all proceeds going to the Foundation. Also, in honor of USTA Florida’s 75th year as an organization, the Foundation has a goal to raise $75,000 for 75 years!    

ABOUT THE USTA FLORIDA 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. To learn more or to apply for a grant go to ustafloridafoundation.com/apply.