Palo Alto, Calif. - The Universal Tennis Foundation proudly announces the successful launch of its Scholars & Scores Count! High School Grants program, aimed at supporting tennis programs in schools with socioeconomic needs nationwide. This program extends crucial financial assistance to 26 eligible high school tennis programs across 21 different states, empowering these programs to nurture young athletes' skills without financial constraints.
Each eligible recipient school will receive a generous $1,250 grant through the High School Grants program. This funding is designated to cover various tennis-related expenses, such as uniforms, tennis equipment including rackets and balls, fitness training, and court rentals. This initiative underscores Universal Tennis Foundation's unwavering commitment to fostering and nurturing young athletes within underserved tennis communities.
"At Universal Tennis Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of tennis, offering life-changing opportunities for growth and development," said Darcy Leschly, President of Universal Tennis Foundation. "The creation of the Scholars & Scores Count! High School Grants program reflects our dedication to making tennis accessible to as many young athletes as possible, and we are thrilled to witness its impact on high schools with socioeconomic needs nationwide."
The 26 selected public high schools represent a diverse range of communities and school sizes across 21 states and in Washington, D.C. This program is poised to have an immediate positive impact on these high school tennis programs, contributing to the growth and development of young athletes from underserved backgrounds.
The 2023 grant recipients are:
Lauderdale County High School — Rogersville, Ala.
Hoover High School — San Diego, Calif.
Calexico High School — Calexico, Calif.
Hanford West High School – Hanford, Calif.
Eureka High School — Eureka, Calif.
Buena High School — Ventura, Calif.
Orville H. Platt High School — Meriden, Conn.
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School — Washington, D.C.
Gainesville High School — Gainesville, Fla.
Rabun County High School – Tiger, Ga.
Waipahu High School — Waipahu, Hawaii
South Tama County High School — Tama, Iowa
Nicholas Senn High School — Chicago, Ill.
Goshen High School — Goshen, Ind.
Boyd County High School — Ashland, Ky.
Oakdale High School — Oakdale, La.
Boston Latin Academy — Boston, Mass.
Raytown High School — Raytown, Miss.
Smithfield-Selma High School — Smithfield, N.C.
Basic Academy Of International Studies — Henderson, Nev.
Sprague High School — Salem, Ore.
Central High School — Philadelphia, Pa.
Cranston High School East — Cranston, R.I.
Devine High School — Devine, Texas
Manti High School — Manti, Utah
Jenkins Jr/Sr High School — Chewelah, Wash.
“Our tennis programs are beyond thrilled to be the recipients of this generous grant from Universal Tennis,” said Rabun County High School coach Bryan Getty, a coach from one of the recipient schools. “We are working hard to grow tennis in Rabun County, and this grant will most certainly benefit our programs and help us do that.”
Universal Tennis Foundation is acutely aware of the importance of removing financial barriers and promoting inclusivity within the tennis community. By targeting Title 1 schools and those with over 40% reduced and free lunch program students, the High School Grants program takes a significant step toward fostering a more equitable and competitive tennis landscape.
This is the second initiative of the Universal Tennis Foundation and follows the launch of the Universal Tennis Foundation Hurd Awards in March at the BNP in Indian Wells. The Hurd Awards were established to help enable American college players to transition to the international tennis tour upon leaving college. Peyton Sterns (University of Texas) and Andrew Fenty (University of Michigan) were named the 2023 Hurd Award grant recipients.
To learn more about Universal Tennis Foundation, the Scholars & Scores Count! High School Grants program, the Hurd Awards, or to make a donation, please visit universaltennis.foundation.
About the Universal Tennis Foundation:
Universal Tennis Foundation is a 503(c)(3) charitable organization with a mission to enrich lives through increased education and knowledge of tennis, bring tennis to underserved individuals and communities, cultivate programs that support youth and wheelchair tennis, promote the health and social benefits of tennis, and maximize the athletic potential of talent.