USTA Foundation and The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation partner to empower future leaders and honor outstanding mentors
The USTA Foundation today announced its new partnership with The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation to empower future leaders and honor outstanding mentors through the Reginald F. Lewis Game Changer Award and the newly rebranded Reginald F. Lewis Career Days program.
The Reginald F. Lewis Game Changer Award will formally recognize individuals who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to mentoring the next generation of leaders by providing guidance, stability, and the tools necessary to live their best life stories, both on and off the tennis court. The award will be given annually to two individuals–including coaches, educators, and mentors–from the USTA Foundation’s national network of community-based organizations, nominated by young people who participate in their programs. Each recipient will receive a trip to the 2026 US Open, along with a $10,000 grant to support and strengthen youth development efforts at their organization.
Additionally, through this collaboration, the USTA Foundation will host Reginald F. Lewis Career Days in Washington, DC. This initiative, held in July, aims to help young people from under-resourced communities learn about corporate and civic career pathways and build networking skills through real-world exposure.
Reginald F. Lewis sitting at his office desk. Photo courtesy of The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation.
Reginald F. Lewis was a pioneering trailblazer and the first African American to lead a billion-dollar company following his historic 1987 acquisition of Beatrice International Foods. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he co-founded Wall Street's first African-American law firm before establishing TLC Group, L.P., where he executed record-shattering leveraged buyouts. Beyond his business acumen, Lewis was a devoted philanthropist whose legacy lives on through the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, dedicated to investing in youth and creating a more equitable society. Guided by his mantra, "Keep going, no matter what," his life remains a cornerstone of American business history, highlighting a legacy of ambition, tenacity, and the power of preparation.
“Reginald F. Lewis emphasized goal setting, doing your best, and determination to succeed with integrity,” said Loida Lewis, Chair of The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation and widow of Mr. Lewis. “We are proud to partner with the USTA Foundation to establish the Reginald F. Lewis Game Changer Award to celebrate coach-mentors who instill these same values, empowering the next generation of youth to dream boldly and achieve greatness both on and off the court.”
“Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways we can invest in young people and their futures,” said USTA Foundation CEO Ginny Ehrlich. “This partnership with The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation allows us to shine a light on the local champions who are helping young people from under-resourced communities build the skills necessary to write their best life stories. The partnership will also provide young people with opportunities to explore career pathways and envision a future for themselves they may not have otherwise imagined.”
Nominations for the Reginald F. Lewis Game Changer Award will be accepted beginning April 15, 2026. For more information about the award or the Reginald F. Lewis Career Days program, please visit ustafoundation.com.
Related Articles
-
![Visit the USTA Foundation pledges 800,000 service hours in support of Martin Luther King Jr.-inspired “Realize the Dream” movement page]( "Group of children and adults posing for camera.")
The goal of the national initiative is to achieve 100 million hours of service by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 100th birthday in 2029. Read More -
![Visit the Black History Month 2026: Community Impact Hub leader John Borden reflects on tennis as an ‘unexpected anchor’ page]( "Three men posing for a photo at a gala.")
The chief executive officer of Tennis Memphis, a USTA Foundation Community Impact Hub, shares the importance of representation in the tennis community. Read More -
Laureus Sport for Good supports over 300 sports-based programs across 40 countries, and each year, the Laureus Sport for Good Award honors one of those programs after careful selection by members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. Read More
