By Ashley Marshall,USTAFoundation.com
The charitable arm of the USTA has been serving up dreams to under-resourced youth for more than two decades. Now, it has been recognized for its philanthropic endeavors with a prestigious award that will allow it to impact even more disadvantaged youngsters across the United States.
The USTA Foundation was named the 2017 ESPN League Humanitarian Leadership Award winner at the third annual star-studded Sports Humanitarian of the Year Awards, presented by ESPN and sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
This was the USTA Foundation’s first nomination for an ESPN Sports Humanitarian Award. With the win, given to a professional sports league for driving social impact, the Foundation will receive a $100,000 grant from ESPN that will be used to directly impact the more than 225,000 youngsters through 350 NJTL chapters across the country, allowing them to continue providing quality tennis and educational programming to those most in need.
"The USTA Foundation is proud to be recognized by ESPN with this prestigious award,” said Dan Faber, Executive Director, USTA Foundation. “We accept this award on behalf of the entire National Junior Tennis and Learning network, in recognition of its work impacting hundreds of thousands of under-resourced youth around the country through tennis and education programs. We are extremely grateful to those who have supported our efforts in everything we do, from improving the organizational infrastructures of NJTLs through funding and technical support, to offering college scholarships so students can successfully excel in their academic endeavors.
"The USTA Foundation would like to thank USTA Executive Director and COO Gordon Smith, the USTA Foundation Board of Directors and USTA Foundation President Thomas Chen, and USTA President and CEO Katrina Adams for continuing to advocate and support our mission. Lastly, a special thank you to former USTA President Judy Levering for establishing the USTA Foundation back in 1994 and for her ongoing passion and commitment. Judy's vision made it all happen."
The mission of the USTA Foundation is to bring together tennis and education to change lives of youngsters. The Foundation utilizes financial grants, scholarship opportunities, curricula, technical assistance and training to make a lasting difference, with a primary focus of developing and ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network.
The Foundation raises money and public awareness to support these programs through private donations, corporate sponsorships and foundations, as well as its special fundraisers held throughout the year. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $25 million in grants and scholarships to more than 270 programs, helping thousands of children and adults throughout the country.
Tuesday night's awards ceremony was held for the first time at L.A. LIVE’s The Novo and hosted by former professional boxer Laila Ali and Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN’s “Mike and Mike.” The event celebrated and honored leagues, teams, individuals and members of the sporting community that are using the power of sport to make a positive impact on society.
Click here to view the USTA Foundation's acceptance speech.
Click here for a closer look at the USTA Foundation's NJTL programs and how the organization is helping to empower youth through tennis and education.