USTA, Genesis Foundation partnership expands to include Holy Savior students

Last August, USTA Kansas produced a story detailing a partnership between the USTA and Genesis Foundation for Fitness & Tennis (GFFT) that brought vital learning and tennis programs to grade-school students in underserved communities across Wichita during the summer.

USTA Kansas is excited to share the program is expanding to include after-school students at Holy Savior Catholic Academy, with support from the Friends University men’s tennis team and McAdams NJTL Foundation.

The “GFFT’ing Tennis and Academics After School Program” offers students academic and athletic programming aimed at improving their personal, emotional and physical well-being. Tennis is a main focus of the athletic offerings of the program.

Holy Savior Catholic Academy is an inner-city school with a mission to uplift its students, bringing hope and building their confidence so they can shine. The after-school program is sure to be a boon to the school’s offerings.

“Students at Holy Savior Catholic Academy may not otherwise get an exposure to tennis if it wasn’t for this program,” said Dr. Delia Shropshire, president of Holy Savior Catholic Academy. “The introduction to tennis can create a lifelong love for the sport. Additionally, the physical exercise it provides is a bonus. The students love the program and look forward to all of the activities, including the educational component.”

The tennis portion of the program is led by volunteers from the Friends University men’s tennis team as well as members of the McAdams NJTL Tennis Foundation.

“The students have a special relationship with the (volunteers),” said DeAnn White, executive director of GFFT. “These individuals are bonding with the students and provide positive role models.”

Alex Lee, Friends University men’s and women’s tennis head coach and McAdams NJTL executive director, echoed White’s sentiment.

“The Holy Savior tennis program has been a blessing to the kids. It brings joy to the students and gives them a great avenue for exercising,” said Lee, a USTA Missouri Valley board member. “The red ball program allows them all to have success playing a sport that involves running, hitting, jumping and sometimes sliding to hit balls. It’s nice to see the smiles and interactions on their faces.”

The program also receives funding from the USTA National Foundation, USTA Missouri Valley Tennis Foundation and USTA Kansas Foundation.

To view a previously published USTA Kansas article about the partnership between the USTA and GFFT, click here.