The second on-court activation in support of the USTA Foundation's Frances Tiafoe Fund took place in Houston this week, as the fund's namesake, Frances Tiafoe, took time out of his preparations for the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships to participate in a tennis clinic with young student-athletes who participate in programming with the Houston Tennis Association.
The Houston Tennis Association is one of the more than 250 National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters in the U.S. that provide free or low-cost tennis and education services to under-resourced kids around the country with the support of the USTA Foundation. The Frances Tiafoe Fund, launched last summer, is one way that the next generation of American youth who participate in these programs is supported.
Tiafoe started his tennis career at age 4 at an NJTL, the Junior Tennis Champions' Center in College Park, Md., where his father served as the head of maintenance after immigrating from Sierra Leone in 1996.
“It wasn’t too long ago that I was playing tennis at an NJTL chapter in my hometown of College Park, Md.,” Tiafoe said. “I know the impact that this program had on me as a kid, and it’s really special for me to be here in Houston and inspire the next generation to chase their dreams no matter what obstacles they may face.
"Seeing these kids, how excited they are, I just hope that it gives them hope that a guy who went through the same pathway they did was able to do something special. Obviously, it's not about everybody trying to be the next Frances Tiafoe, but going to college ... branching out into so many different avenues, it's so meaningful."
Clif Bar, one of Tiafoe’s partner brands and an early supporter of the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund was also on-site during the clinic and provided youth with healthy snacks as part of its efforts to increase equity and access to sports and the outdoors.
Kim Borza Donaldson, the USTA Foundation's head of development and partnerships, commented that the organization continues to be "so proud" to stand with Tiafoe in touching the lives of young people nationwide.
"He's one of the best tennis players in the world, but more importantly, he's one of the greatest humans," she said." He's such a great philanthropist, and we're so proud to be associated with him and the Frances Tiafoe Fund."