Adaptive Winner: Abilities Tennis of N.C. 

Abilities Tennis Association of North Carolina (ATANC) was honored with the USTA National Adaptive Community Service Award at the USTA Semi-Annual meeting in New York City in September 2018. 

Established in 2007 by a small group of parents and an adaptive tennis coach, ATANC is a non-profit organization and a state-wide Community Tennis Association with the mission to provide free tennis opportunities year-round for athletes with intellectual disabilities at all levels across N.C.  

The ATANC has robust programming available to participants, including clinics in 17 locations, schools and summer camp tennis support, introductory and Unified Doubles Play Days and six annual tournaments. ATANC also provides training for coaches and volunteers, and a free curriculum for use on the court.

Abilities Tennis changes lives. Not only does the organization provide an opportunity for the athletes to play tennis, “. . . but to also learn about themselves, be part of a team and grow and succeed on and off the court,” says Craig Morris, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, of the USTA. 

 “All the same, wonderful tennis opportunities that are available to ‘typical’ players” are also available to our son,” explains ATANC participant parent Jill Carpenter. 

Charles Hunsucker, another Abilities athlete parent who is also a coach and Unified Doubles partner, adds, “[My son] has certainly learned that he can compete hard and enjoy tennis to the fullest, but his worth as person is not measured in wins and losses but how he treats his fellow players along the way.” 

The USTA National Adaptive Community Service Award was established in 2003. 

To qualify for a program award, the program must have been in existence for a minimum of three consecutive years and be a registered USTA Adaptive Tennis program. 2019 award nomination forms are available by clicking here.

Nominations will be accepted through April 15, 2019.