USTA Florida staff stopped by Waller Elementary, who was continuing to recover from Hurricane Michael, to drop off equipment from USTA Florida & the USTA Florida Section Foundation. The school lost all of their tennis equipment for PE classes during the storm when their storage building was destroyed. Mr. Black talked to us about the experience and how this equipment will help restore his class activities & fun for students who are returning home to challenges in the aftermath of the storm.
Scott Thornton
Executive Director, T.E.A.M. Junior Tennis
Executive Director, Scott Thornton, shares what his Orlando-based program stands for and how the grant he received is able to impact expanding his programs to reach more of those in need.
Judy Moore
Program Founder, Tennis for Fun
Judy Moore talks about how Tennis for Fun has positively effected its participants, her excitement about the support from the USTA Florida Section on adaptive tennis, and how the grants received have allowed her program to continue to grow.
Christoph Teves
Director of Operations, Delray Beach Youth Tennis Foundation
Christoph Teves talked to us about how rapidly the Delray Beach Youth Tennis Foundation program has grown, how it helps the youth they serve, and how grant awards have made an impact on their program.
Bob Davis
President, Panda Foundation
President of the Panda Foundation, Bob Davis, and Coach Michael Fowler discuss how they teach tennis and change lives in their local community with help from grant opportunities.
Lisa Pugliese
Founder, Love Serving Autism
Love Serving Autism Founder, Lisa Pugliese, discusses the impact receiving multiple grants has made, why you should apply and what her organization is about.
Sherry Wheelock
CEO & President, Special Olympics Florida
Special Olympics Florida CEO and President, Sherry Wheelock, discusses how tennis helps to improve their athletes’ ability and life skills.
Marc Pulver
Athlete
I have a passion for tennis and I want to be a coach for Special Olympics athletes. I feel like I can help others living with autism.…
Amy McCully
Jewish Community Center
The JCC, its kids, and their parents have all expressed their gratitude in finally having a quality recreational program for the kids in the area. The kids and parents are loving that their kids are improving in their tennis skills, while the program also focuses on the character of the child.…
Tim O’Donnell
Sopchoppy Educational Center
Some said, "I never imagined I could compete with some of the athletic students in any sport. Winning a tennis match against them is something I will never forget." The grant provided by the USTA to Sopchoppy Education Center has provided a life changing opportunity to many students at our school. Youth that never considered playing tennis, or had the opportunity to do so, now express enthusiasm and constantly ask,…
196 Grants
given to after school programs totaling $274,060.99
Ken Anderson
Father of Downs Syndrome athlete; Tennis for Fun
A lot of these young adults and children don't have a chance to really do a lot of activities unless somebody's there to guide them. To have a program like this is fantastic if for no other reason than people loving other people.…
758 Grants
awarded from 2010-October 2018
Ramon Echeverria
Principal, Fellsmere Elementary School
I am very happy and grateful to the USTA Florida Section Foundation for considering our city and for providing funds to retrieve this field. Our children and their families now have the opportunity to be active and live a healthier life.…
9 Grants
awarded to GACTA totaling $52,854.40 between 2010-2018
Jessica Flynn
Director of Foundation Relations, Special Olympics Florida
Thanks to USTA Florida and the USTA Florida Section Foundation for their support of our athletes. This adaptive tennis equipment is going to go a long way.…
Bryan Shelton
University of Florida Head Men’s Tennis Coach
Aces in Motion is truly making a difference in the Gainesville community. To see at-risk kids lives enriched in a positive way has also brought our entire tennis community together. (Wesley participates in the Gainesville Area Community Tennis Association’s Aces in Motion program that offers disadvantaged children the opportunity to learn and play tennis and teaches life skills on and off the court.)…
91 Grants
given to schools totaling $284,842.02
Keonna Perry
Participant of the Gainesville Area Community Tennis Association’s Aces in Motion Tennis Outreach Program for at-risk children
I started playing tennis in fifth grade after attending an after school program funded by the USTA Florida Foundation. I continued to play in middle school where my coaches told me that they are here to make me a better tennis player but, more importantly, a better person. They not only coach tennis but they also encourage me to focus on achieving my dream of becoming an athletic trainer.…
Ruth Lyle
PE Teacher, Sealey Elementary School
The students were really engaged in the tennis activities which really cut down on any disruptive behaviors because they did not want to miss out on tennis. The students really looked forward to doing the activities and the older students that participated in the lessons using the Tennis Skillastics had a great time as it was something different for them. They enjoyed it so much that I also purchased the…
$1.7M Awarded
Over $1,766,000 total dollars awarded from 2005-2020
23 Grants
grants given to adaptive programs for Special Olympics-related and totaled $17,805.03
Janet Raney
Southwestern Middle School
This grant program has been a life-saver for Tiger Tennis. There is no way that I could provide the activities for the children without the support of the grant. I can get some donations, but not the amount that is needed to provide the equipment so that every child can have a tennis racquet to use and tennis balls to hit. Thank you!…
Dave Scheck
Program Director, Highlands County Family YMCA
One participant named Katie was overheard saying how much she enjoyed playing tennis and how she looked forward to attending our Afterschool Program because we played a lot of tennis. We have parents explain to us how their children want to play tennis outside the walls of the YMCA and how they think they will play tennis when they get to High School. What you guys do is a wonderful…
25 Grants
Grants given to various YMCAs totaling $41,758.23
Cybil Pulver
Marc's Mother
Marc always felt that autism is just a roadblock…He feels he can accomplish anything he wants. (Marc Pulver, 57 years old Special Olympics athlete started his training for tennis when he was 16 years old because he has a passion for the game of tennis, especially for other Special Olympic athletes. )…
JR Harding
External Affairs, Agency for Persons with Disabilities
People with disabilities want to learn to play tennis just like everyone else. Now that there is tennis equipment available at Rish Park, people with disabilities have the opportunity to play tennis, learn how to be part of a team, and maintain a level of fitness through an active lifestyle… your grant will be able to bring an active sport to those who have been living on the sidelines.…
56 Grants
given to adaptive programs totaling $121,928.81
17 Grants
given to the Boys & Girls Clubs totaling $18,971.36
8 Grants
awarded to the Malivai Washington Youth Foundation between 2011-2018, totaling $43,318.88
Nancy Grow
Mother of Downs Syndrome athlete; Tennis for Fun
You just don't want to be anywhere else on Friday other than tennis.…
MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation
The USTA Florida Section Foundation’s grants have truly made an impact on the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation programs over the past two years. Through the generosity of USTA Florida and the Foundation, MWKF was able to expand our 10U Junior Team Tennis programs to nearly 200 youth playing in match play at least twice a month. It is awesome to hear the kids talk about their ‘teams’ and their upcoming…