The home of the International Tennis Hall of Fame's National Junior Tennis and Learning chapter, TeamFAME, will now bear the name of USTA Foundation chairperson, Chris Evert.
Newport's Canfield House building was officially unveiled as the Chris Evert Learning Center over the weekend, as a part of the 2024 enshrinement weekend for this year's Hall of Fame class, as a brick-and-mortar reminder of all that the former tennis great has done to uplift those in need.
TeamFAME is one of more than 250 NJTL chapters throughout the U.S. that are sponsored by the USTA Foundation, the national philanthropic arm of the USTA, which Evert has chaired for the last five years. Inducted into Newport in 1995 for her tennis accomplishments, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion has worked tirelessly to uplift under-resourced youth around the country through her work with the USTA Foundation and her namesake Chris Evert Charities, Inc., opening doors for them to strive for excellence, and facilitating opportunities to enrich themselves, their lives, and their communities through tennis.
TeamFAME serves under-resourced middle school students in Newport and surrounding communities, 63% of which live at or below the poverty line, through its after-school and summer slate of activities, which include tennis instruction, social and emotional wellness programming, academic enrichment, and community engagement.
“I am humbled to receive this recognition at a place that means a great deal to me, the International Tennis Hall of Fame," Evert said. "TeamFAME does incredible work in providing tennis and educational support to the Newport community. It is an honor to have my name associated with the inspiring programming that takes place here locally, with ripple effects globally.”
The dedication was attended by many of Evert's fellow Hall of Famers, including Martina Navratilova, Kim Clijsters, Stan Smith, Tracy Austin, Rosie Casals and Rick Draney. The incoming Class of 2024 (former players Vijay Amritraj and Leander Paes, and journalist Richard Evans), TeamFAME students, and ESPN commentator Chris McKendry, who is Evert's close personal friend, also attended.
International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Dan Faber, with whom Evert worked closely when he was the chief executive of the USTA Foundation, called her someone who "embodies all that it means to be a Hall of Famer, both in her impact on the court and her track record of giving back to the sport of tennis" in his remarks during the dedication.
"Her dedication to developing tennis and education programming has positively impacted countless kids and their families across the country," Faber added.