SOUTHERN ARIZONA ADAPTIVE SPORTS RECEIVES USTA WHEELCHAIR TENNIS GRASSROOTS GRANT

The USTA recently announced that Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports has been awarded a USTA Wheelchair Tennis Grassroots grant. 

Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports, out of Tucson, was one of 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 for 2020 were based on each program's existing budget, as well as the future programming needs of the organization, and Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports received $3,000. It was the third consecutive year in a row SAAS has been awarded a grant for their continued support and dedication to growing wheelchair tennis.

    The grant money SAAS will receive be used on a multiplicity of expenses related to the program, from court fees for programming, equipment in the form of tubes, tires, straps, cushions for SAAS sports wheelchairs for tennis loaners, tournament expenses for the April and October Run-Roll events, and scholarships to players with financial hardship to the EZMED Arizona Open this March in Tucson.  

“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.”

      Mia Hansen, executive director of Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports, was especially grateful for the continued assistance and support of the USTA, both at a national and regional level.

      "We have received USTA funding (now for three years) and it has helped us tremendously to grow our wheelchair tennis community program," said Hansen. "By providing courts, balls, and scholarships to tennis tournaments, we have grown the number of participants and are turning our focus to trying to grow more Junior wheelchair tennis participants by reaching out to high school aged 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 Kelsey Lawson at lawson@southwest.usta.com.