Category: Youth

How You Can Give to Grow Tennis this Summer!

Kids want to play tennis and all we have to do is put them on a path to get into the game. But sometimes, things get in the way. The cost of lessons or tennis summer camp fees, or even equipment can be more than some can afford. This is why we fundraise! 

Your support helps youth players in need access the benefits of tennis. By contributing, you ensure all children have equal opportunities to enjoy the physical, social, and emotional advantages of playing tennis.

All children deserve to play tennis and scholarships from USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation make it so more youth can get into and stay in the sport.

Join USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation and support the Summer Smash challenge. This year all money raised in the challenge will fund scholarships for youth tennis players. 

And we need you now more than ever. 

The 2024 spring Junior Player Scholarship application period saw an incredible 40% increase since 2023. We’ve received more applications than ever before. We will exhaust all of our scholarship funding in this first round of applications. But so many more kids need help and need to be able to play tennis! 

Tennis continues to be an outlet for kids to get involved, make friends, and be active.  This year’s Summer Smash challenge will directly fund our Junior Player Scholarship so that  youth tennis players can gain the healthy benefits of the sport we all love! 

Let’s Smash the Challenge Together 

This challenge provides a fun, easy way for your team to compete against other Mid-Atlantic teams to see how much money you can raise for the USTA Mid-Atlantic Junior Scholarship program. It’s truly a special experience. 

“It’s fun sharing something important to me and telling others about its benefits,” said Robin Sanford, the top fundraiser in the 2021 Summer Smash Challenge. “I also love a challenge!”

Since 2018, USTA Mid-Atlantic has awarded scholarships to 179 youth players to help cover expenses related to tennis and keep them playing. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to fund more youth player scholarships and meet the growing needs of players and their families/caregivers. 

Thanks to two generous donors, your impact will be doubled with a matching offer up to $5,500! This means we can raise even more this year, maximizing the benefits for our scholarship program with each donation.

Here are the easy steps to get your fundraiser on a roll: 

  1. SIGN UP
    Click here     to register as an individual with the option to join a team later!
  2. SHARE YOUR PAGE
    Personalize your page with your tennis story, photos and videos then share the news with your network.
  3. GET MORE SUPPORTERS
    Ask your friends and tennis teammates to join your team; you can send them a custom link to sign up on your dashboard. Also, share your fundraising page with friends and family asking them to support you so that more kids can experience the benefits of tennis!

“I set up my page and then emailed it to about 15 people individually, who I thought might be willing to help,” Sanford said. “These were family and friends who I thought would be willing to support my effort and help a good cause, they responded very generously.”

Here are four tips to help guide you toward a successful fundraiser: 

  • Make your first donation to your page, $5, $10, $25 or more is a great way to get started and show others you really care. 
  • Invite your fellow tennis players to join your fundraising team so that together you can reach your goal!
  • Share your fundraising page with family and friends and ask them to help you reach your goal. Share your page in a text message, on your Facebook page or Instagram page or even send an email! Friends help friends that ask! 
  • Send thank you notes to all who donate to your page and let them know they are helping to change lives through the sport of tennis!

The Perks of the Summer Smash 

Now, we do know tennis players love a little friendly competition! In recognition of that, you and your team could WIN big by going big with your efforts.

Summer Smash 2024 top fundraiser prizes:

  • Mubadala Citi Open Team Experience! Includes (15) tickets for your team to attend the 2024 Citi Open together this summer in Washington, DC among other surprises!
  • Enjoy a 2-hour tennis clinic for 8 at The Boar’s Head Resort, followed by refreshing beverages with your team at a local brewery in Charlottesville, VA.
  • Enjoy a Pickleball Social with a 90-minute clinic and a round-robin tournament for 16 people, including 8 players and their guests!

The challenge ends July 17th, so let’s get started!

Participating in Summer Smash is a great way to begin leaving your impact on the Mid-Atlantic tennis community, but your journey doesn’t have to stop there! If you’re looking to do more to grow tennis in your community, there are various ways to get involved year-round and make an impact.

Questions? Contact Anita Walker, Director of Development, awalker@mas.usta.com

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

groups of children sitting around the coach on a tennis court

Girls Rule the Court™

About Girls Rule the Court™?

Girls Rule the Court™ (GRTC) is a program from USTA Mid-Atlantic to promote health, wellness, and teamwork while building self-esteem through tennis for young girls. The program teaches the basics of tennis to girls in a fun and rewarding environment led by female tennis coaches and mentors.

At the Core of the Court

As a nonprofit organization, USTA Mid-Atlantic envisions Girls Rule the Court as a way to help close the gap on physical and wellness opportunities offered for young girls, increase sport participation among girls, and promote multigenerational connection and mentorship through positive female coaches and role models. Reaching young girls in under-resourced communities with Girls Rule the Court is a critical component of the program. 

Girls Rule the Court tennis programs for girls are offered thanks to the support from grants and individual gifts. Support Girls Rule the Court and become part of our Founders Court with a gift today.

More than Tennis

Participants create meaningful and beneficial connections while engaging in important dialogue about teamwork, empowerment, and the benefits of physical activity.  Girls Rule the Court is tennis for girls where they can have fun, make friends, and get active their way.

Creating Community 

Currently, Girls Rule the Court is running in a pilot phase in select locations in the Mid-Atlantic Section. Program Locations:

  • Baltimore, Md.
  • Loudoun County, Va. 
  • Charlottesville, Va. 
  • Louisa, Va. 
Register Here

Creating Character 

Girls find access and connection to the lifelong sport of tennis while growing their technical, tactical, and performance skills.  During Girls Rule the Court sessions, participants learn important character-building skills to take into the real world. 

Donate to GRTC

Creating Well-being 

GRTC seeks to elevate participants’ social networks and social capital through tennis to help young girls aspire to dream. Important social-emotional lessons are delivered and measured to understand the program’s effectiveness on positive youth development. 

See More

Outside the Court

Thank you to our supporters

Baltimore:

  • Kahlert Foundation
  • PNC Bank

Loudoun:

  • Northern Virginia Community Foundation- Community Investment Fund
  • Nicole Leppert
  • April Providakes
  • Pamela Nix
  • River Creek Tennis Association
  • Dimick Foundation

Charlottesville/Louisa:

  • Andy Larson
  • Marsha Musser
  • MarieBette Bakery
  • Ann Hay Hardy
  • Frank Hardy Sotheby’s International Realty
  • Louisa County Community Fund/Charlottesville Community Foundation

GRTC in the News

The buzz around Girls Rule the Court is undeniable. The excitement about the program and the emphasis on giving young girls access to the everlasting benefits of tennis is getting some noteworthy news. Check it out! 

WMAR-TV (ABC) Baltimore – ‘Girls Rule the Court’ inspires young girls to learn the game of tennis, watch here

WVIR-TV (NBC) Charlottesville – Free tennis lessons taught to young girls, watch here

Neela W: A Story of Gratitude and Tennis Passion in the Mid-Atlantic

As we continue to celebrate 100 years of tennis in the Mid-Atlantic, we are forever reminded that this milestone would not be possible without the incredible people of the past and present day who embrace the mission, and embody our guiding pillars of community, character, and well-being through tennis. We are sharing and celebrating their stories, and the next one comes from Neela W. 

Neela is a sophomore in high school in Maryland. She plays tennis on her varsity team and trains at the 4 Star Tennis Academy. Neela recently became a volunteer with USTA Mid-Atlantic and offered her time to write a personal essay – in her own words – about what tennis means to her and how the sport impacts her life. 

For as long as I can remember, tennis has been a part of my life. Even before I was born, most of my family enjoyed playing tennis. While my grandpa loved playing for fun with my mom, my dad and aunt both played competitively. I began playing tennis with my dad when I was five years old. Tennis originally started as a fun hobby and a way to spend time with my father, but quickly grew into a more serious activity. By the time I turned nine, I was taking group lessons and playing competitive matches. By age 12, I played my first tournament.

The week leading up to my first tournament, I worked extremely hard with my dad and coach. I remember getting more and more nervous as the start day approached. However, the second I hit my first shot, my nerves started to subside. I ended up finishing second in the tournament as I won three out of four matches. After I exceeded my own expectations, I was truly hooked on the game. I planned to enter more tournaments the following summer. 

However, before I could register for summer tournaments, the pandemic happened. The whole world shut down, and as a result I could not play tennis. This was the first time tennis was taken away from me, as all the public tennis courts and training centers were closed. I could no longer go to a public park to play or even just hit on a concrete wall. Even though my tennis game suffered because of the lockdown, the real lesson I learned is not to take tennis for granted. Every day, being able to hit on the court is a privilege, and not something to be taken for granted.

Gratitude is ultimately what tennis means to me. I am lucky to be able to play this game. It is an absolute privilege to push myself every day in practice, constantly improve my game, and compete with other players. And although difficult, I try to let this lesson of gratitude spill over in other aspects of life. So for me, tennis is not just a sport, but a mindset. I really cannot imagine my life without tennis.

Stay up to date with USTA Mid-Atlantic’s Centennial Celebration by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

This year USTA Mid-Atlantic, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is celebrating 100 years of promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Get involved and show your support for the next 100 years of tennis. Learn about our impact in the region and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being.

Tackling Tennis Access

In 2017, the Aspen Institute selected Baltimore as the first city to implement a model initiative to identify and facilitate opportunities for a variety of leaders and stakeholders to come together and grow the quality and quantity of youth sport opportunities. Project Play Baltimore was a three-year collective impact initiative, and at the onset a draft report was published indicating the lack in activities and activity level for youth in the city. Only 26% of males and 16% of females met the CDC’s recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity daily. 

In the years following the initiative, significant progress has been made. Earlier this year, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a $120 million vision for the city’s recreation and parks acknowledging the critical and vital role recreation plays in the well-being of residents, especially youth. 

Likewise, USTA Mid-Atlantic – a nonprofit organization – recognizes the significance and importance of ensuring access to tennis and the life-long benefits the sport provides. We envision a community where tennis is accessible and available for all people to play, especially youth who can benefit exponentially from the sport. We rely on the generosity and support of our community that helps us take on and tackle challenges – from increasing physical activity to addressing equity and access to tennis and more. 

Seeing the opportunity to make a significant impact and acknowledging Baltimore’s rich and deeply rooted tennis history, USTA Mid-Atlantic is taking a leadership role to bring tennis to more youth in the city of Baltimore (and in the County) and support the overarching vision for a healthier community and equity for recreation and youth sports. 

Thanks to support from the Ravens Foundation, Inc., through a Ravens PLAY 60 Grant, USTA Mid-Atlantic began implementing free and low-cost introductory tennis programs using the USTA Team Challenge format in Baltimore, primarily in Druid Hill Park and Patterson Park this spring, along with sessions not too far outside the city in Baltimore County. Additional funding from the Kahlert Foundation to the Section supported USTA Mid-Atlantic’s implementation of a new pilot tennis program called Girls Rule the Court™ offered in the city of Baltimore. 

Both tennis programs in Baltimore that USTA Mid-Atlantic offers are introductory, giving youth the chance to learn the fundamentals of tennis in a fun, low-pressure environment. All equipment is provided and use of public park tennis courts help make it easy and convenient to participate. 

Not only that, Baltimore youth gain increased physical activity levels and both programs are rooted in a positive youth development experience that facilitates social emotional learning (SEL) and supports an overall healthy well-being for young people.  

Developing SEL skills such as building confidence, character development, and creating meaningful peer connections is a key component in both programs. USTA Mid-Atlantic partnered with Hello Insight to measure SEL among participants of the programs. On average, participants reported a 84% satisfaction rate through the Hello Insight participation surveys. In addition through post surveys, “87% of participants also reported that they were able to positively share and listen to each other during the program, positively impacting their interpersonal relationships and communication skills.” Catie Dugan Vargas, associate director of development for USTA Mid-Atlantic reflected on the feedback received thus far from program participants, “This information enables us to grow the program in impactful ways and improve the overall experience for all participants in real time, thereby ensuring each young person is finding their unique path to thrive,” she said. 

The spring sessions concluded with 37 participants among both tennis program offerings in Baltimore, and summer programs are starting now. If you would like your child or someone else you know to participate in these rewarding tennis programs for youth check here for location, dates and details for the programs. Registration is open and all are encouraged to sign up. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic aims to continue to grow these programs and tennis offerings in Baltimore to increase access to tennis and support the vision that all children have access to sports. 

One way you can get involved and show support is by volunteering with us to help with both of these programs. Volunteers are the heart of USTA Mid-Atlantic and there are plenty of opportunities beyond these as well, such as volunteering at local tennis events, community events, joining committees, and other USTA Mid-Atlantic projects. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, check out our volunteer page, and visit our volunteer hub to learn more about how you can get started and sign up to volunteer. 

To stay up to date on all things tennis in the Mid-Atlantic make sure to follow USTA Mid-Atlantic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic 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 Section and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being.

Summer Tennis Camp

Summer Full of Tennis Thanks to Scholarships

In partnership with adidas tennis camps

Andrea Vargas playing tennis at adidas summer camp

“What did you do over the summer?” 

As classrooms and school hallways fill with students excited to be returning to school, many children will ask this question. Some will describe memorable trips or time spent with family and friends. Some will share about summer camps and new experiences or adventures. 

For Andrea Vargas, a youth tennis player from Washington, D.C. she’ll be answering the question with, “I went to tennis summer camp!” Andrea received the USTA Mid-Atlantic Summer Camp Scholarship to attend a week of the adidas tennis camp at the Madeira School in McLean, Va.  

The Mid-Atlantic Summer Camp Scholarship program gives young athletes the opportunity to attend a summer tennis camp free of charge.

This scholarship program is made possible by the USTA Mid-Atlantic and organizations that donate camp sessions, such as the adidas tennis camp.

“Having the experience to come and enjoy my time at this summer camp was… FANTASTIC,” Andrea said. “I had the luxury to meet friends that I wouldn’t have met [before], and played amazing tennis with my friends, all thanks to this awesome camp!”

The adidas summer tennis camp is designed to give players the chance to uplevel their tennis. With the help of instruction from top coaches, players have the chance to play in exhibition matches with other athletes and access skillful drills. This camp enables athletes to become better tennis players in a fun, positive, and inclusive atmosphere. 

At USTA Mid-Atlantic, we are proud to give players the opportunity to continue to work on their tennis skills, build their community of tennis friends and grow through the character-building elements of the sport through scholarships that make experiences such as summer camp accessible.  

“This scholarship has impacted my tennis in so many ways. I learned things I wouldn’t have learned in another academy,” Andrea said when reflecting on how the USTA Mid-Atlantic Summer Camp Scholarship helped her tennis improve. 

Andrea Vargas playing tennis at the adidas summer camp

“Additionally, I had the opportunity to get some quality match play against a very good player and, of course, had fun while enjoying the sport I love the most!”

USTA Mid-Atlantic creates character. It is part of our mission to create opportunities for character building through the sport of tennis for all people. With the help of programs like the adidas summer camp, it increases access to character building benefits so ALL players have the chance to achieve the lifelong enjoyment of the sport.

To stay up to date on additional scholarship opportunities from USTA Mid-Atlantic, click here. And to learn more about the impact tennis is making in the Mid-Atlantic, explore additional resources here. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Learn how you can support our vital work and programs such as our summer camp scholarships and more.