Santa Fe Family Life Center Awarded Wheelchair Tennis Grant

The USTA announced on January 22, 2020 that Santa Fe Family Life Center was awarded a USTA Wheelchair Tennis Grassroots grant. Santa Fe Family Life Center was one of the 33 wheelchair tennis programs nationwide chosen for their support to promote and develop the growth of wheelchair tennis and use the sport to help build stronger, healthier communities. The first USTA Wheelchair Tennis Grassroots grants were awarded in 2008 and since then, the USTA has given more than $650,000 to wheelchair tennis programs across the country.  

Grant amounts were based on each program's existing budget, as well as the future programming needs of the organization. Recipients can use the award to support coaching, court time, equipment, recruitment and events including tournaments and camps.

“Four years ago, USTA Oklahoma hosted a wheelchair tennis clinic with Nick Taylor. Coaches from Santa Fe Family Life Center attended, and from that moment, they have led the way in Oklahoma with reigniting wheelchair tennis,” said USTA Oklahoma Diversity & Inclusion Chair Emmy Tigert. “From coaching to facilities to equipment, this club has invested in everything possible to provide top-tier tennis to the wheelchair community. They are an example of passion and excellence to us all!

“The USTA is proud to award these grants to deserving wheelchair tennis organizations in recognition of their commitment in promoting and growing the sport of wheelchair tennis,” said Joanne Wallen, Director Adult Competition, USTA. “These grants are a part of a continued effort to expand programs that support the wheelchair community through tennis and foster growth and success in players.”

The USTA grants are being awarded to the following organizations: 

• Michigan Sports Unlimited (Midland, Mich.)

• Twos Athletic Club (Toledo, Ohio)

• Plantation Community Tennis CTA (Plantation, Fla.)

• CORTA (Columbus, Ga.)

• Desert Ability Center (La Quinta, Calif.)

• Mid-Carolina Tennis Association (Rock Hill, S.C.)

• Spring Rollers LLC (The Woodlands, Texas)

• HSC Community Services, Inc. (New Britain, Conn.)

• EXcellence Tennis Foundation (Cincinnati)

• USTA Florida Section, Inc. (Orlando, Fla.)

• Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

• Helen Leonard, Kelly Flouhouse, Taylor Wingate (Charlotte, N.C.)

• La Mirada CTA (Norwalk, Calif.)

• Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (Tucson, Ariz.)

• Access Tennis Seattle (Snohomish, Wash.)

• Athletes with Disabilities Network Northeast (North Wales, Penn.)

• Spaulding Rehabilitation Network (Charlestown, Mass.)

• Western Wake Tennis Association (Cary, N.C.)

• South Coast Wheelchair Tennis Foundation (Attleboro, Mass.)

• Dwight Davis Tennis Center (St. Louis)

• South Shore YMCA (Norwell, Mass.)

• Clemson University (Anderson, S.C.)

• Santa Fe Family Life Center (Oklahoma City)

• Bowling Green Parks and Recreation (Bowling Green, Ky.)

• City of Santa Clarita (Santa Clarita, Calif.)

• Utah Tennis Association (Salt Lake City)

• City of Mission Viejo/Marguerite Tennis Center (Mission Viejo, Calif.)

• University of Houston (Houston)

• Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital (Lincoln, Neb.)

• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

• USTA Southern (Peachtree Corners, Ga.)

• Team Junior Tennis, Inc. (Orlando, Fla.)

• Michigan State University (East Lansing, Mich.)

Organizations that are interested in starting a wheelchair tennis program or would like more information about wheelchair tennis can email wheelchairinfo@usta.com.