USTA NEW ENGLAND AWARDS $135K IN COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS GRANTS IN 2024

FOURTEEN ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS GRANTS

WESTBOROUGH, MA - USTA New England is pleased to announce it has given $135,500 to local tennis organizations as part of its 2024 Community Champions Grant program. These grants primarily fund nonprofits that deliver inclusive tennis programming that align with the section’s mission, ‘Growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities throughout New England.’

“It’s inspiring to see so many good people and programs doing whatever they can to grow the game of tennis and use education to inspire youth. We see these funds as a catalyst for growth to influence positive outcomes in their communities,” said Mason Bultje, Chair of the USTA New England Committee responsible for determining and allocating grant funding.  

With $84,500 already awarded this year and an additional $51,000 set to be given out by year’s end, the Community Champions Grants are the USTA New England’s most sought after funding opportunities, showcasing the section's commitment to empowering local tennis communities.  

The grants are a collaborative effort between USTA New England and its state associations, which provide supplemental funds to selected organizations. Since the program’s inception, USTA New England has awarded more than $500,000 to a variety of impactful programs, including support for 14 different organizations this year alone.

One recipient, the Central Lincoln County (CLC) YMCA in Damariscotta, ME, has received grants for two consecutive years to expand its tennis and community initiatives. 

“Thanks to the USTA New England grants, we have been able to grow the game of tennis to 500 young players in our community. Within our 10-town service area, we have taught 3rd graders in five different elementary schools, giving them all the equipment over the past two years they need to play,” said CLC YMCA Racquet Sports Director, Georgia Ahlers. “Several of these young players have continued to play at the CLC YMCA in our youth tennis programs and have brought their families along to play in our free Saturday morning program, which is also supported by USTA New England. 

In Rhode Island, TeamFAME, the NJTL chapter of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, provides out-of-school activities to help the underserved community reach their goals, learn new skills, and change lives on and off the court. 

“We are thrilled to receive funding from USTA New England and USTA Rhode Island. Funding provides advanced play opportunities for players in Newport and the surrounding areas. We look forward to offering additional programming and competitive play opportunities that will keep kids motivated to play tennis through high school and beyond,” said Marguerite Marano, Executive Director at TeamFAME. 

To be eligible for a Community Champions Grant, programs are required to be USTA organizational members, all staff must be Safe Play approved, and a sustainability plan must be in place. 

“We want there to be easy first steps to building towards a more sustainable organization and internal capacity,” Bultje said. “It’s great to see creativity as far as what their tennis and education programs look like, and it’s more appealing to us when folks are avoiding the cookie cutter approach. These programs understand their community needs and we want to be there to assist.”

To learn more about Community Champions Grants and how to apply, click here or email Mavi Sanchez-Skakle at mavi.sanchez-skakle@newengland.usta.com. 

About USTA New England

USTA New England, one of 17 regional sections across the country that comprise the United States Tennis Association (USTA), is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting and developing the growth of tennis and increasing participation in the sport in New England by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities. For more information, visit www.usta.com/newengland.