National Junior Tennis & Learning: The Legacy of Arthur Ashe
History
In 1969, the National Junior Tennis League was founded by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder. The program uses tennis as a tool to teach important life skills such as leadership, discipline, teamwork, and responsibility. It also provides academic support and encourages participants to excel in school.
Today, the now-named National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network features more than 250 nonprofit youth development organizations that offer free or low-cost tennis and education programming to over 150,000 under-resourced youth each year.
Pictured above are participants in the 2025 NJTL Regional Leadership Camp in Lexington, Ky.
NJTL is supported by the USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the USTA. The work done by its member chapters includes after-school tutoring focused on academic enrichment, a life-skills curriculum, and, of course, tennis.
Over 60 Southern NJTL chapters are also supported by USTA Southern and the Southern Tennis Foundation. Furthermore, NJTL chapters are supported by each of the nine state offices in the Southern Section.
2026 USTA Southern NJTL Program Grant
2026 STA Tennis Program Grant application
Grant cycle one: Opens 12/15/25; Deadline 1/31/2026
Grant cycle two: Opens 4/1/2026; Deadline 5/31/2026
2025 USTA Foundation NJTL Essay Contest
“Finding Your Way?”
Lenny Simpson NJTL Leadership Camp
June 11-14, 2026; Memphis, Tenn.
Southern Tennis Foundation (STF) NJTL Program Grant
Click for the STF Tennis Program Grant application
Grant cycle one: Opens 12/15/25; Deadline 1/31/2026
Grant cycle two: Opens 4/1/2026; Deadline 5/31/2026
Southern Tennis Foundation (STF) College Scholarship applications
Register for a STF scholarship
Opens 1/1/26; closes 4/3/26
USTA Foundation College Scholarship application
Scholarships apply here | USTA Foundation
2026 deadline: March 15
USTA Foundation NJTL Essay Contest
Closes May 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT
Essay question this year:
Describe a meaningful experience where you led or inspired others. What was the situation, how did you
make an impact, and what did you learn about leadership that will shape your future?
NJTLs can get information by clicking here.
USTA Foundation Impact Conference for NJTL chapter leaders
2027 dates and location: TBA
Submit your NJTL Chapter highlights for Southern newsletter
Download the Southern NJTL Newsletter
USTA Southern contacts
Jean Marie Simon, Manager, NJTL & Southern Tennis Foundation simon@sta.usta.com
Miyanda Wynn, Coordinator, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion wynn@sta.usta.com
Rudy Lewis, NJTL Committee Chair tenniszyx@aol.com
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