James Skinner in the center wearing a grey sweatsuit and red hat smiling at the camera on the tennis court with two young boys and two young girls smiling at the camera.

From a Wooden Racquet to Rising Stars: Meet 2026 Provider Champion James Skinner

When James Skinner was an 11-year-old fifth grader, a classmate presented a Black History Week report on tennis legend Arthur Ashe. Intrigued, Skinner asked his father, a physical education teacher, for a racquet. His father handed him an old wooden racquet and a brown paper bag of tennis balls. Skinner took that equipment to a local park and hit against the wall for hours until he fell in love with the game.

Decades later, Skinner is opening doors to that same sport for youth throughout Richmond, Va. As head coach of the Richmond Tennis Association Rising Stars Academy and boys tennis coach at Monacan High School, Skinner has spent his career breaking down financial barriers and mentoring the next generation. His commitment to access, inclusion and youth development has earned him the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation 2026 Provider Champion Award.

Drawing on his background as a public school educator in the Richmond area, Skinner treats the court as an extension of the classroom, emphasizing patient, incremental skill building.

“As an educator, that is the same way we teach kids: you teach one skill, then you teach another skill and you build on it,” Skinner said. “I always tell the kids you have to embrace the process of tennis. It is not going to happen overnight.”

At Monacan High School, Skinner focuses on instilling character and teamwork in his student-athletes. Whether working with his top seed or his sixth player, he ensures every athlete recognizes their individual worth to the group.

“In team tennis, everybody has a role,” Skinner explained. “Number six is just as important as number one. In life, we all have value and contribute to society in different ways. We are not all the same, but we still work together as a cohesive unit and depend on each other.”

That inclusive philosophy extends to Rising Stars Academy, a program providing free tennis instruction to youth across Richmond. When Skinner took leadership of the academy, his priority was simple: ensure any child from any neighborhood in the city could participate without restriction.

The program’s impact is visible in graduates like Rita, who began hitting with Skinner as a 7-year-old. Now competing at the collegiate level for the University of Mary Washington, she comes full circle this upcoming summer by returning to coach the next generation of players alongside him.

“For those kids to see her and know she started just like them is an amazing thing,” Skinner said. “We want champions, but what is more important is connecting these kids to a game they can play for the rest of their lives. It will take them places, introduce them to people and expand their lives in so many ways.”

Skinner also connects his students directly to tennis history. Through his friendship with Jolynn Johnson Smith, granddaughter of Dr. Robert “Whirlwind” Johnson, Skinner takes his players to Lynchburg, Va., to train on the historic courts where Ashe and Althea Gibson learned the game.

“To me, it was like a Mecca for Black tennis in the South and on the East Coast,” Skinner said. “When these kids go to the courts in Lynchburg and actually play on them, they become a part of that history and that legacy.”

Whether introducing young athletes to tennis history or running weekend drills, Skinner views grassroots participation as the foundation of the sport’s future.

“The top players do not expand the game,” Skinner said. “It is the recreational players, the school players and the tournament players who play in the parks on the weekends. That is who expands the game.”

James Skinner will be officially recognized at the 2026 Tennis Creates Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, the evening celebrates community leaders who embody community, character and well-being. Reserve your table online by visiting tenniscreatesgala.com.

Subscribe to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s YouTube Channel and follow @ustamidatlantic on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Learn about our impact in the region and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being.

Volleybird Named Court Sponsor of Girls Rule the Court™ in New Partnership with the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Volleybird Named Court Sponsor of Girls Rule the Court™ in New Partnership with the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation

Partnership supports girls’ tennis across the Mid-Atlantic, with 20 percent of affiliate-link sales funding the program

ARLINGTON, Va., November 4, 2026 – The USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation and Volleybird, the sport discovery company behind premium subscription boxes for tennis, pickleball, padel and golf, today announced a new partnership naming Volleybird a Court Sponsor of Girls Rule the Court™, the Foundation’s signature initiative that provides free or low-cost tennis and life-skills programming. Since its inception in 2022, Girls Rule the Court has introduced over 2,000 girls to tennis and helped build confidence, character, and community on and off the court. The sponsorship runs through December 2027.

Through the partnership, 20 percent of every purchase made through the Girls Rule the Court affiliate link at volleybird.shop goes directly to Girls Rule the Court, turning gift buying into support for girls’ tennis across D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and eastern and southern West Virginia. The partnership also makes Volleybird a presenting sponsor of the 2027 Pauline Betz Addie Cup (June 7-8, 2027, Boar’s Head Resort) and puts Volleybird on site at three USTA Mid-Atlantic League tournaments during the term.

“Girls Rule the Court gives girls a place to compete, belong, and grow, on the court and well beyond it. Volleybird was built by women who know firsthand what tennis can give a girl, and their support helps us reach even more girls in the Mid-Atlantic.” – Beth Twomey, Chief Operating Officer, USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation

“Tennis teaches you how to compete, how to lose, and how to come back the next day. Girls Rule the Court gives girls that start, and it matters. We built Volleybird as players ourselves, and putting our name and our revenue behind this program is the kind of partnership we wanted from day one,” said Cassandra Toroian, co-founder of Volleybird.

The Foundation will introduce the partnership to Mid-Atlantic players by email and across Girls Rule the Court social media channels later this month. Volleybird will be acknowledged as a sponsor on USTAMidAtlanticFoundation.org, GirlsRuleTheCourt.com, and the Girls Rule the Court program landing page.

About the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation

The USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits across D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and eastern/southern West Virginia. Guided by core principles of Community, Character, and Well-Being, the Foundation reached more than 114,500 youth in 2025 through tennis programs – including nearly 70,000 students through school-based initiatives. By investing in public facilities, youth scholarships, and character development, the Foundation is working toward its vision of “tennis in every community.” Learn more at USTAMidAtlanticFoundation.org.

About Volleybird

Volleybird is a premium sport discovery company serving tennis, pickleball, padel, and golf players across the U.S. Founded by serious amateur athletes Tracy Thomas and Cassandra Toroian, Volleybird hunts down the gear, apparel, and lifestyle products that most players would never find on their own, from established brands to emerging makers redefining the sport. Volleybird’s flagship subscription box delivers $200+ of hand-picked, sport-specific items every 60 days. The company also operates a wholesale channel, bringing carefully selected sport apparel and product lines to clubs, facilities, and retailers across the U.S. Volleybird has been featured in the New York Post, Florida Tennis Magazine, Fox21 News Colorado, and CBS News Washington DC. Learn more at volleybird.shop.

Media Contacts

Mike Knowles, Inside the Lines Advisory (PR for Volleybird) – mike@insidethelinesadvisory.com, 205.789.4006

Kaitlyn Kinsey, Director of Marketing and Communications, USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation – kkinsey@mas.usta.com, 703-556-6120 x7088

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Gabrielle 'Gabi' Berg (right) in a black Reebok shirt, white shorts, and white tennis shoes holding a red and black racquet hugging her cousin Kai (left), wearing a black zip sweater and a white tennis skirt holding a tennis racquet.

Youth Leader Gabrielle Berg Expands Adaptive Tennis Across Northern Virginia

Youth Leader Gabrielle Berg Expands Adaptive Tennis Across
Northern Virginia

At 17 years old, competitive junior tennis player Gabrielle “Gabi” Berg is already transforming the tennis landscape across Northern Virginia. Balancing daily training, weekend tournaments and her senior year of high school, the Arlington-based junior player has dedicated herself to making the sport accessible to athletes with special needs. Her remarkable initiative and leadership have earned her the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation 2026 Youth Leader Award.

Berg first fell in love with tennis at age 4 and began playing competitively by age 8. Her journey into adaptive coaching began in 2021, inspired by her cousin Elle, an athlete with Down syndrome who plays in Florida. Witnessing Elle’s joy on the court prompted Berg and her friends to launch free tennis clinics for youth with Down syndrome in Northern Virginia. By 2024, Berg expanded that vision by launching the Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun Inc., a volunteer organization providing free clinics for athletes with special needs, and partnering with the Arlington YMCA Tennis & Pickleball Center to offer year-round programming.

“Tennis is such a great sport specifically for adults and children with special needs because of how adaptable it is,” Berg said. “The drills you can do can be individualized to meet the specific needs of our players versus other team sports where you have to move at the pace of a team. In tennis, you can use any type of equipment to meet the needs of your players.”

At every clinic, Berg and a devoted team of volunteers create a warm, welcoming space where athletes build their skills, cheer each other’s winning points, and discover the joy of playing as a team.

“What motivates me the most is seeing the joy in the kids, how excited they get when they arrive and seeing their smiles as we go through the clinic,” Berg said. “It motivates me to know I can share my passion for tennis with others in my community.”

To expand opportunities for her athletes even further, Berg became a certified Special Olympics coach, with hopes of taking her Tennis For Fun players to Special Olympics competitions in 2027. As she prepares for college, she is already mentoring a younger volunteer, Siena, to ensure the Northern Virginia clinics continue to thrive for years to come.

For other young people hoping to create positive change in their communities, Berg offers advice.

“Go for it,” Berg said. “Find a group of people you share interests with, who you enjoy working with, and work together to build something bigger than yourself.”

Gabrielle Berg will be officially recognized at the 2026 Tennis Creates Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, the evening celebrates local leaders who embody community, character and well-being. Come celebrate our awardees and reserve your table online at tenniscreatesgala.com.

Subscribe to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s YouTube Channel and follow @ustamidatlantic on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Leigh Jackson on stage at a Girls Rule the Court Leadership Conference with 4 other woman smiling at the camera

Adult Leader Leigh Ann Jackson Expands Tennis Access Across Fairfax County

Adult Leader Leigh Ann Jackson Expands Tennis Access Across
Fairfax County

Leigh Ann Jackson knows firsthand how picking up a tennis racquet can change a life. After discovering the sport at age 38, tennis quickly became an essential source of health, friendship and joy in her daily routine. Today, the retired educator from Alexandria, Va., channels that passion into opening doors for the next generation, earning her the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation 2026 Tennis Creates Adult Leader Award.

Recognizing a critical need for accessible after-school programming along the Route 1 corridor, Jackson helped advocate to bring the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation Girls Rule the Court™ (GRTC) program to Groveton Elementary School. Over five seasons, she has introduced more than 130 young girls to the game in a supportive, Title I school environment that eliminates common barriers such as transportation and cost.

“I believe that it will change girls’ lives and give them opportunities as they grow older that otherwise they may not see,” Jackson said. “I am here for them.”

Sustaining and growing the program required grassroots dedication. Jackson built a devoted host committee of local women to secure annual funding, even organizing creative initiatives like a community mahjong fundraiser to provide participants with racquets, snacks and social-emotional learning playbooks. When she pitched expanding the initiative to Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, the response was immediate. With district support, Jackson successfully advocated to launch GRTC at a second location, Hybla Valley Elementary School.

For Jackson, the greatest reward comes during the everyday moments on the court when practice turns into confidence.

“Watching them figure out how to move their body to learn the art of tennis, and then to see the moment when they say, ‘I got it, I know how to do this,’ is wonderful,” Jackson said.

Jackson also highlights the final session of each season, where families and siblings join the players on the court for an evening of food and games, as proof of how tennis strengthens the entire school community. Now entering retirement, her goal is to see GRTC expand to 40 elementary schools across Fairfax County.

“I think if you have tennis to come back to, you have a court to walk out on and you have friends to be with, life is good,” Jackson said.

Leigh Ann Jackson will be officially recognized at the 2026 Tennis Creates Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia. Come celebrate our awardees and reserve your table online at tenniscreatesgala.com.

Subscribe to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s YouTube Channel and follow @ustamidatlantic on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Connecting Courts and Classrooms: Janelle Nichols Champions Academics and Athletics for D.C. Youth

For Janelle Nichols, tennis and education are inseparable partners in personal growth. As Director of Programs & Partnerships for the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), Nichols has dedicated her career to blending academics, life skills and athletics for youth in under-resourced neighborhoods across Washington, D.C. Her innovative leadership has earned her the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation 2026 Tennis in the Classroom Award.

Nichols came to tennis as an adult with a background in public health, quickly discovering that the sport provided an ideal platform for community well-being. At WTEF, she oversees programs that deliver no-cost tennis instruction paired with academic enrichment and STEM curriculum, creating an environment where lessons learned on the court directly inform classroom success.

“Fusing tennis and education provides a unique opportunity for learning,” Nichols said. “You might be struggling with a concept in the classroom, and you get on the court and learn how to push through that challenge, strategize and be a leader. Those skills transfer across both environments.”

Making that impact possible requires deep roots in the community. Nichols collaborates closely with school administrators, coaches and neighborhood organizations to ensure programs meet the real needs of families.

“Partnership building at its core is really trust building and cultivating trust among lots of different entities,” Nichols explained. “We cannot do what we want to do in isolation. We need community partners, schools and families all pushing toward the same goal to uplift our participants.”

The long-term impact of that holistic approach is evident in WTEF alumni. Earlier this year, a student supported by WTEF completed an operations internship at the Mubadala DC Open and the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. After returning to college, he added a sports management minor to his degree, directly altering his career trajectory.

“Ultimately, the qualities I am trying to instill the most are confidence and resilience,” Nichols said. “Tennis uniquely helps develop those traits because you have to navigate challenges, move with the ebbs and flows and learn how to push through uncomfortable moments. I hope our students leave knowing they have strengths they can lean into.”

Janelle Nichols will be officially recognized at the 2026 Tennis Creates Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia. Join us in honoring Nichols and our other inspiring changemakers by visiting tenniscreatesgala.com to reserve your table.

Subscribe to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s YouTube Channel and follow @ustamidatlantic on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

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From a Wooden Racquet to Rising Stars: Meet 2026 Provider Champion James Skinner