The USTA announced that the Rockford Park District in Rockford, Ill., has been awarded a Community Partnership Investment Grant (CPI). The grant, in the amount of $13,000, is one of seven CPI grants awarded by the USTA which total $187,500. The USTA also distributed $234,000 to 38 non-profit organizations throughout the country, awarding a total of over $400,000 in Recreational Tennis Grants to deserving organizations.
The grants are designed to support community based organizations who build tennis communities through collaborative and lasting partnerships. The organizations that were selected met the following criteria: increasing tennis participation, supporting tennis programming and fostering diversity with both participation and programming.
“We are excited to announce our second round of grants totaling over $400,000. This investment will help organizations that are dedicated to using tennis as a vehicle to improve the quality of life and education for both children and adults alike,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “These organizations are committed to growing the game of tennis by implementing important local programming such as the QuickStart Tennis play format and Jr. Team Tennis, and the USTA is proud to be able to assist them in their efforts.”
The Mission of the Rockford Park District is to Help People Enjoy Life by providing a comprehensive and well-managed urban park and recreation system. The Rockford Park District was formed in 1909 to establish and maintain a public park and recreation system for the health, well-being, and entertainment of area citizens. It is now the second largest municipal park system in the State of Illinois. In 2008, there were more than 10 million user visits to our 175 park and facility sites. The District serves 208,132 residents and more than 150,000 citizens from the surrounding area.
The Rockford Park District is one of seven recipients of the Community Partnership Investment Grants, others include: Tennis & Education, Inc.; Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, Inc.; The Lee County Community Tennis Association; USTA Central Arizona; The Charlotte Tennis Association; and Forest Ranch Camps.
All grants ranged from $10,000 to $40,000 and will be eligible for partial renewal for up to two years based on their progress. Following this period, these organizations are expected to be self-sustaining without additional USTA funding.