In their own words: Kelly Johnson on giving back
As we celebrate Women’s History Month throughout March, we look toward leaders in tennis who are working to spread this sport far and wide. This month, you'll meet leaders who are telling their first-person stories and who recognize the influences family, friends, players, teachers and coaches have had on the direction their lives and careers have taken—and how that direction is positively impacting the newest generations. Today, meet Kelly Johnson.
Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate, reflect and speak up for recognizing women both on and off the tennis court. It serves as a reminder that progress has been made and will continue into our future.
I was inspired to play tennis by my older brother, Neal, when I was in high school, and I made it onto my school’s varsity team. I played through college in the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s USTA Tennis on Campus program (graduating in 2015), and my journey in this sport has allowed me to teach youth and adults as a certified instructor, coach collegiate tennis in NJCAA and work in the sports industry. I currently live in Portland, Ore., and am a merchandise manager at the Adidas North America headquarters.
Ten years ago, I created one of the most gratifying things in my career, the nonprofit Kelly Johnson Foundation, which provides extracurricular and academic support to high school students across the U.S.
Since its inception, we have awarded 19 scholarships and provided sports equipment to four high school teams. I founded the nonprofit when I was an undergraduate, and the first fundraiser I hosted was a tennis tournament.
In 2014, one of my jobs during college was teaching tennis for a summer recreation program. I realized I could get the ball rolling with our nonprofit’s impact in the local community and raise funds for our scholarship program, so we hosted the first event, the Johnson Summer Classic, in Middleton, Wis., a suburb of Madison.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Johnson.
This year will mark the 11th Annual Johnson Summer Classic, a USTA-sanctioned event now held in Milwaukee. The foundation also hosts three other USTA-sanctioned tournaments, in Illinois and Oregon. Additionally, the KJF also has a weekly podcast called “The Daily Grind” to motivate listeners on their goals and put a spotlight on entrepreneurs and athletes.
I’m so thankful to my brother for getting me into tennis and helping me realize the importance of hard work and perseverance both on and off the court. Not only am I dedicated to promoting the sport and growing the game for all ages and skill levels, but my drive also is to give back and encourage future young leaders to pursue their career goals. In that vein, one of the initiatives I’m involved in is volunteering as a mentor for the Madison Business Mentoring program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
I’m so thrilled that the USTA is helping to create a more inclusive and equitable society in sports and overall. By shining a spotlight on the actions and achievements we volunteers are bringing to this sport and to our communities, the USTA encourages continued effort by all.
[Editor’s Note: As a University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni, Kelly Johnson was recognized in 2023 as an “8 to Watch For” recipient. She also received the 2023 Woman to Watch Award by the national Women in Sports & Entertainment (WISE) and its Portland, Ore., chapter. A former member of the USTA National Tennis on Campus Committee, USTA Midwest Collegiate Tennis Committee, and USTA Chicago Serve & Return Board of Directors, she currently serves on the USTA National Adult Competition Committee and the USTA Pacific Northwest Fundraising Committee, and is on the board for WISE, the Wisconsin Alumni Association Portland Chapter and the University of Kansas Alumni Portland Network.]
—Edited by Peter Francesconi
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