Each year over the last decade, the USTA Foundation has partnered with longtime US Open sponsor Chase to provide financial assistance to National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters across the country—and that partnership will continue in 2023.
This year, a total of 27 NJTLs chapters will receive $325,000 in Chase Return the Serve grants grants to support their year-round tennis and education programming, the USTA announced Tuesday.
Over the 10-year partnership, Chase has awarded more than $1.6 million to selected NJTL chapters. This year's grants will support the endeavors of more than 54,000 youth from under-resourced communities.
“Chase continues to serve as an unwavering supporter of our charitable mission to bring tennis and education together to change lives,” Kathleen Wu, USTA Foundation Board President, said. “The Return the Serve program has made a positive impact on tens of thousands of kids across the country, and we are grateful to Chase for its continued generosity and steadfast commitment to the communities we serve.”
Chapters in 14 states are the recipients of this year’s round of grants, and seven “Return the Serve” Fun Days will take place in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the announcement. These events, which are being held from July 10-15, are a microcosm of the experience that NJTLs provide their student-athletes and communities at large: high-energy tennis activities, off-court educational opportunities, and healthy lunch for NJTL participants and their families.
After a two-year absence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these events returned in style in 2022, where more than 1,000 youths in five markets joined in the celebration.
“JPMorgan Chase is proud to support the USTA Foundation and its NJTL programs’ long term mission of enabling youth in underserved communities to succeed on the court, in the classroom and in life as they pursue their dreams,” said Synettra Coleman, Business Development Manager, JPMorgan Chase. “This year we are excited to have our Chase Community Managers engage children in entertaining, off-court educational opportunities that will help them develop healthy saving and spending habits.”
The following NJTL chapters will receive a Chase Return the Serve grant:
Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation (AYTEF) – Atlanta
South Atlanta Community Tennis Association (SACTA) – Atlanta
Sportsmen's Tennis & Education – Boston
Tenacity, Inc. – Boston
New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) – Bronx, N.Y.
Kings County Tennis League – Brooklyn, N.Y.
XS Tennis & Education Foundation – Chicago
Tennis Opportunity Program – Chicago
Love To Serve – Chicago
The ACE Project – Chicago
Advantage Cleveland – Cleveland, Ohio
Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) – College Park, Md.
Dallas Tennis and Education Academy – Dallas
Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program – Harlem, N.Y.
Houston Tennis Association – Houston
Zina Garrison Tennis Academy – Houston
MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation – Jacksonville, Fla.
First Break Academy – Los Angeles
40 Love Foundation – Los Angeles
InnerCity Tennis Foundation – Minneapolis
Fred Wells Tennis & Education Inc. – Minneapolis
Directed Initiatives for Youth, Inc., dBA Excite All Stars – New Orleans
East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring – East Palo Alto, Calif.
Legacy – Philadelphia
Portland Tennis & Education Foundation – Portland
Metropolitan Tennis & Education Group (MTEG) – Washington, D.C.
Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF) – Washington, D.C.