The Universal Tennis Foundation is proud to announce the expansion of its Scholars & Scores Count! High School Grant Program, with 55 public high schools across the U.S. set to receive a total of $55,000 in funding this year. Following a successful launch in 2023, the program has doubled in size thanks to the generous contributions of donors who have helped make this growth possible.
The grants, which provide $1,000 to each of the selected schools, support over 2,000 student-athletes, helping to increase access to tennis and create lasting opportunities for young players. The foundation’s growth in 2024 underscores its commitment to enhancing tennis at the grassroots level and fostering the development of student-athletes across the country.
The grants will provide crucial financial assistance to tennis programs nationwide in schools with socioeconomic needs. With these funds, the 55 public high school tennis programs will be able to nurture young athletes' skills with fewer financial constraints. This funding will cover various tennis-related expenses, including basic tennis equipment, such as racquets and balls, but also court rentals, fitness training, and uniforms.
“At Universal Tennis Foundation, we know that tennis transforms lives,” said Darcy Leschly, President of the Universal Tennis Foundation. “We’re thrilled to double our high school grant program and further bring to life our mission of making tennis more inclusive and accessible to everyone, especially underserved individuals and communities. Through these generous grants, public high schools in need across the country will help young athletes enjoy tennis, the sport of a lifetime.”
The 55 public high school recipients represent a diverse range of communities and school sizes across 23 states (see full list below). Schools are required to use the funds this school year, which ensures that the grants have an immediate positive impact and contribute to the growth and development of hundreds of young athletes from underserved backgrounds.
One of the recipient schools is located in the Lahainaluna school district in Maui County, Hawaii, an area still recovering from the devastating 2023 fire that killed 102 people and caused nearly $6 billion in damages.
The grant for Lahainaluna High School will “greatly ease the burden we carry daily to our recovery and rebuilding,” said Macario Pascual, head coach for the boys and girls varsity tennis teams. “This grant will help keep the money that my parents would need to spend, stay in their pocket. For many, it's a game-changer as it will encourage their kids to participate without having this expense.”
Elsewhere, in Newton, Iowa, the money will help the community for years to come.
“The focus of our programs is to mold even better people to impact our community long after they are done playing tennis,” said Jared Gerber, Newton High School boys tennis coach. “Our team values of fairness, unity, encouragement, and hard work drive the students to achieve off the court as well.”
In Riverside, California, the grant will help young athletes focus on tennis without worrying about the basic tennis equipment, such as shoes and a racquet.
“We run a no-cut program and explain to our players that, so long as they continue to show up for practice and attend the matches, they will be a part of our team,” said Scott Harris, junior varsity tennis coach at John W. North High School in Riverside.
Universal Tennis Foundation High School Grant programs target schools where more than 40% of their students qualify for the federal government’s free- and reduced-lunch program, an indicator of poverty in the community.
2024 Universal Tennis Foundation Scholars & Scores Count! High School Grant Program
Argonaut High School - Jackson, California
Bayshore High School - Bradenton, Florida
Bourbon County High School - Paris, Kentucky
Brantley County High School - Nahunta, Georgia
Cajon High School - San Bernardino, California
Calexico High School - Calexico, California
Center High School - Antelope, California
Cesar Chavez High School - Delano, California
Charlton County High School - Folkston, Georgia
Clovis East High School - Clovis, California
Dayton High School - Dayton, Texas
Dunbar High School - Fort Myers, Florida
Duncan High School - Duncan, Oklahoma
Early County High School - Blakely, Georgia
Eau Gallie High School - Melbourne, Florida
Eleanor Roosevelt High School - Eastvale, California
Elite Scholars Academy - Jonesboro, Georgia
Elkhart High School - Elkhart, Texas
Fannin County High School - Blue Ridge, Georgia
Florence High School - Florence, Alabama
Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy - Chicago, Illinois
Hammond High Magnet School - Hammond, Louisiana
Hanford West High School - Hanford, California
JL Mann High School - Greenville, South Carolina
John W. North High School - Riverside, California
Kelso High School - Kelso, Washington
Kennedale High School - Kennedale, Texas
Lafayette high school - Lafayette , Louisiana
Lahainaluna High School - Lahaina, Hawaii
Lookout Valley Middle and High School - Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mankato East High School Tennis - Mankato, Minnesota
Martin County High School - Inez, Kentucky
Montrose Area High School - Montrose, Pennsylvania
Mount Zion High - Jonesboro, Georgia
Newton Community High School - Newton, Iowa
Norway High School - Norway, Michigan
Oak Grove High School - Oak Grove, Louisiana
Oak Hill High School - Oak Hill, West Virginia
Oneida High School - Oneida, New York
Park View High School - Sterling, Virginia
Pell City High School - Pell City , Alabama
Pittsburg High School - Pittsburg, California
Plainview High School - Plainview, Texas
Ramsay International Baccalaureate High School - Birmingham, Alabama
Robertson High School - Las Vegas, New Mexico
About the Universal Tennis Foundation
Universal Tennis Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization supporting youth, high school, college and community tennis players and programs. The foundation also administers the Hurd Awards, which help enable American college players to transition to the international tennis tour upon leaving college. To learn more about or donate to the Universal Tennis Foundation, go to www.universaltennis.foundation.