The USTA Florida Foundation is pleased to announce that in the first half of 2021, $39,800.30 in grant funding was awarded to several community tennis organizations, many of which are helmed or assisted by volunteers.

The giving arm of the USTA Florida Section, the Foundation returns 90% 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.

“Without the support of our generous donors and impact investors, providing support to Florida’s community programs wouldn’t be possible,” said USTA Florida Section Foundation Executive Director Alexis Johnson. “We are ecstatic to be able to offer these grants to programs across the state as they resume play opportunities and emerge from the pandemic.”

USTA Florida Foundation 1st cycle grants

Equipment Support Grants

Aventura — Don Soffer Aventura High School, varsity tennis team, $489.98
Boca Raton — Velasco Tennis, $196.90
Jacksonville — Williams Family YMCA Tennis, $1,800
Jacksonville — MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, $2,497
Lake City — Lake City Columbia Community Tennis Association, youth team tennis and summer clinics, $446.16
Lake Mary — Lake Mary Tennis Center, youth summer camp, $2,141.70

Program Support Grants

Apollo Beach — Life Academy Inc., ABRFC Junior Tennis program, $3,771.42
Aventura & Destin — ACEing Autism Inc., Florida program expansion, $8,057.14

Facility Support Grants

Gainesville — Gainesville Area Community Tennis Association, $15,000
Miami — Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, $2,900
Vernon — Vernon High School, $2,500

A second 2021 grant cycle will open Aug. 1 and run through Oct. 31.

Since 2005, the USTA Florida Section Foundation has had a community impact of more than $1,805,000 through equipment and financial support. That support has gone towards adaptive and youth programming, community tennis programs in economically challenged areas, and building or restoring of quality public tennis facilities across the state.

To support Florida recreational grassroots tennis with a “Play Tennis!” license plate, click here. You can also sign-up for the RoundUp App, where 100% of the change received from rounding-up your purchases goes straight back into the communities needing it the most through grant award opportunities.

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.