After reaching its goal of more than 100,000 Net Generation registrants in 2018, the USTA has contributed $75,000 to the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation as part of the USTA Foundation’s “Net Generation Giving Back” initiative.
Through this campaign, which started in 2018, the Foundation has committed to contribute $1 for every child registered as a part of Net Generation (up to $100,000) in support of the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network. The ACE Project, a Chicago-based NJTL program that is opening a new chapter in Detroit, was also selected to receive funding.
Washington’s foundation will use the funds towards the completion of a new teen center at its headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., with the new facility doubling the number of students the foundation serves. In addition to playing in tennis programs, students and community members will be able to participate in test preparation, social skills classes, college tour and application assistance, and classes on how to get—and keep—a job. The new center will be built on unoccupied land adjacent to the Emmett Reed Center, across the street from the current youth center.
“The MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation has had a long-standing relationship with the USTA and the USTA Foundation and it means so much to me personally that we were chosen as a recipient of the ‘Net Generation Giving Back’ funds,” said Washington, who founded the charitable organization in 1994.
A Wimbledon finalist in 1996, Washington is the one of two African-American men to reach a Grand Slam final in tennis history, alongside Arthur Ashe. He also won four ATP titles in his career and achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 11.
“This contribution not only supports our future teen center and strengthens our partnership with the USTA and the USTA Foundation, but it shows just how much they are willing to invest in the lives of youth in one of the most challenging areas of Jacksonville,” Washington continued. “We look forward to seeing our teen center come out of the ground in the coming months and thank the USTA for helping make this dream happen.”
The NJTL network is made up of nearly 300 chapters that reach approximately 180,000 youth on an annual basis, providing free or low-cost tennis and education programming to the 50 largest markets in the U.S.—nurturing future leaders and enabling kids in need to succeed on the court, in the classroom and in life.
“The NJTL network allows the USTA Foundation to impact under-resourced youth through tennis and education,” said Dan Faber, executive director of the USTA Foundation. “Both of the programs selected to receive the ‘Net Generation Giving Back’ funds have done incredible work in their respective communities and these additional resources will allow them to have an even greater impact.”
“Net Generation’s goal is to grow the sport of tennis by getting more racquets in kids’ hands, regardless of their background,” said Craig Morris, chief executive of Community Tennis at the USTA. “Supporting the USTA Foundation and the NJTL network through ‘Net Generation Giving Back’ is a critical component of that mission.”
Net Generation marks the first time American tennis has had one unified youth brand for children to get into the sport. The movement, which embraces all aspects of youth play for kids ages 5-18, makes it easier for children and their parents to learn about tennis and get into the game in schools, parks and tennis clubs across the country.
For more information, visit NetGeneration.com.