By Rick Vach, USTA Florida Marketing & Communications Coordinator

The USTA Florida Foundation, the giving arm of USTA Florida, returns 90 percent of the annual contributions it receives from the “Play Tennis!” license plate directly back into the Florida tennis community, primarily through local grassroots community program grants.

A few of the 17 programs that received funding during the first grant cycle of 2018.

During the first cycle of 2018 the USTA Florida Section Foundation awarded more than $45,000 in grants across Florida, to community tennis organizations in Boca Raton, Bradenton, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Jupiter, Miami Beach, Orlando, Palm Coast, Tallahassee and Weston.

In Bradenton multiple awards totaling more than $8,000 went to the Panda Foundation’s Panda Project which focuses on adolescents’ adjustment and development, and the after-school Team Junior Tennis Education and Mentoring Program.

In Jacksonville more than $11,000 went toward the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation’s summer camp and after-school programs.

In Orlando almost $10,000 went toward supporting after-school and youth recreation programming.

In Jupiter, Love Serving Autism’s various programs, events and after-school programming garnered more than $11,000.

“We’re elated to be able to offer grant opportunities again this year,” said USTA Florida Section Foundation Executive Director Alexis Johnson. “When the grant applications open again on August 1st, we’d love to see innovative new programs and first-time applicants take a chance on applying so that donations are able to reach more areas throughout the state.”

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 game of tennis. The 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.

USTA Florida Section Foundation 1st cycle grants:

Boca Raton — Velasco Tennis Foundation ($252 equipment grant)
Bradenton (2) — Panda Foundation, The Panda Project 2018 ($5,125); Team Junior Tennis, Inc.-Team Education & Mentoring Program ($3,144)
Gainesville — Gainesville-Area Community Tennis Association, Expansion of Aces in Motion ($2,353)
Jacksonville (2) — MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, TnT Camp Dynamite ($5,400), Excellence Program ($5,700)
Jupiter (4) — Love Serving Autism-Els for Autism RALLY ($3,100), Love Serving Autism-Mountaineer’s School of Autism/After-School RALLY ($2,640), Love Serving Autism-City of Green Acres RALLY ($2,800); Love Serving Autism Expansion of Existing Programs ($2,489)
Miami Beach — North Shore Park Youth Tennis Center ($2,499)
Orlando (3) — Orange County Recreation, Posh Rock at Ft. Gatlin Tennis Center ($4,905); Posh Rock Tennis Foundation ($2,472.80); Frontline Outreach Sports Center ($2,101)
Palm Coast — Flagler Community Education, Belle Terre Swim & Racquet Club ($1,100)
Tallahassee — Special Olympics Carnival at the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger ($616)
Weston — Broward College Tennis Club Start Up ($313)

Since 2010 the USTA Florida Section Foundation has awarded more than $1,272,000 in grants for tennis programs serving people of all ages and abilities throughout Florida.

To support Florida recreational grassroots tennis with a “Play Tennis!” plate go here, and follow along on social media @USTAFloridaFNDN to see how your annual contribution changes lives through tennis throughout the state.

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.

To learn more or for grant information visit www.ustafloridafoundation.com.