WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., February 3, 2010 – The USTA announced that it is awarding more than $34,000 in USTA Wheelchair Program Grants to 23 wheelchair tennis programs across the country for the second consecutive year. Grants were awarded to local organizations that promote and develop the growth of wheelchair tennis and use the sport of tennis to build stronger, healthier communities.
Grant amounts were based on each program's existing budget and the future programmatic needs of the organization. Recipients can use the award to meet the USTA’s grant initiatives including coaching, court time, equipment, recruitment and events (tournaments, camps, etc.).
“We are thrilled to recognize organizations across the country that are committed to promoting and growing wheelchair tennis through local programming,” said Dan James, USTA National Manager, Wheelchair Tennis, “These grants are just a part of the continued effort in implementing important programs that reach out to the wheelchair community through tennis. The USTA is proud to be able to assist in these efforts and hopes to award more grants of this kind in the future.”
The USTA grants are being awarded to the following organizations:
- The Flagstaff Athletic Club, Flagstaff, Ariz.
- Idaho Wheelchair Tennis Association, Boise, Idaho
- Mid-Atlantic Wheelchair Athletic Association, Harrisonburg, Va.
- Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
- National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington D.C.
- Northeast Disabled Athletic Association, Burlington, Vt.
- Atlanta Youth Tennis Foundation, Atlanta, Ga.
- Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, Lake Forest, Ill.
- The Winifried Masterson Burke Hospital, White Plains, N.Y.
- Richmond Tennis Association, Richmond, Va.
- National Tennis Association for the Disabled, Oceanside, N.Y.
- City of Clearwater, Clearwater, Fla.
- South Bay Smash/Far West Wheelchair Sports, San Jose, Calif.
- Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Foundation, Indianapolis, Ind.
- USTA Virginia Tennis, Roanoke, Va.
- Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, Aurora, Ill.
- Henry County Parks and Recreation, Locust Grove, Ga.
- Wheelchair Sports Inc., Wichita, Kan.
- Advantage Kids Special Needs Tennis, Mequon, Wis.
- Ala Moana Wheelchair Tennis Club, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Apex Park and Recreation District, Arvada, Colo.
- Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Lincoln, Neb.
Additional USTA Wheelchair Tennis Grant opportunities will be announced in 2010. Organizations that are interested in starting a wheelchair tennis program or would like more information about wheelchair tennis can email wheelchairinfo@usta.com.