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Department of Outreach and Advocacy Newsletter Conveying the Ideals of Summer 2008 Arthur Ashe Table of Contents NJTL Participants he USTA announced the 10 na- reflect those qualities. Artwork was also tional winners of the tenth annual added as a new submission category. USTA/NJTL Arthur Ashe Essay Younger kids sometimes find it difficult to NJTL Participants Compete in Compete in AAKD Valspar Contest. The 10 winners, ages 10 express themselves through words. Contest AAKD Valspar Challenge, p. 1 Tto 18, received a travel package from August organizers want to make the contest inclusive Target Challenge 22-24 that included: round-trip airfare to New by allowing creative expression. Eight na- York City for them and a parent/legal guard- tional art winners, ages 10 to 12, will receive Latest Events, p. 1 t AAKD on August 23 rd , ten NJTL and introduction of the 10 kids, two ITA Arthur ian; two nights lodging at the New York a commemorative plaque. participants had the opportunity of a Ashe Award College All-Stars as feeders for Grand Hyatt; two tickets to a New York Mets lifetime to win money for their local the challenge, plus 20 minutes of target hitting. baseball game vs. the Houston Astros; tickets For the first time, contest organizers also NJTL Initiative Announces Second NJTL chapter. As part of the NJTL AAKDA Pre-Show, each of the 10 youth hit for The winner of the Pre-Show, 13 year old Hai-Li to Broadway’s “The Lion King;” and tickets provided rewards for NJTL chapters that Year Grants, p. 2 to the 2008 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented submitted over 25 entries. Depending on the targets to compete for one spot in the AAKD Kong from Junior Tennis Champion Center in by Hess on August 23 at the Billie Jean King overall number of submissions, NJTL Stadium Show. During the stadium show, only College Park, MD, moved on to compete in the National Tennis Center, where they were chapters received wristbands, t-shirts for their Two NJTL Chapters Selected for one would stand along side Roger Federer, Stadium Show. During the Stadium Show, Hai- featured guests in the president’s suite. They participants, or a Community Tennis Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Lindsay Li played hard and battled nerves as she chal- also received an honorary plaque at a special Development Workshop scholarship. Capacity Building Grant, p. 2 Davenport to compete in the Valspar Challenge lenged the top professional players on the tour. lunch with the 106th Mayor of New York and win money for their NJTL. Ultimately, Hai-Li did not win the challenge, City and USTA Board Member David These changes were important in growing the Leadership and Tennis Come but she earned $12,000 for her NJTL chapter Dinkins. The luncheon also included the In- contest and making it more successful. The 10 youth were the best candidates at four and won the hearts of the thousands of fans in tercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), plus Overall, 58 NJTL chapters sent in over 2,300 Together in Washington, D.C., p. 3 regional tryouts held this summer in Boston, the stands as a young hopeful among some of nine of their Arthur Ashe Junior Leadership essays and over 1,200 pieces of artwork, for a New York City, Washington, DC and Philadel- the heaviest hitters in the game. and Sportsmanship Award Winners. total of 3,561 submissions. This is up 173% phia. Each participant was recommended by from 1,300 submissions in 2007. 2008 Regional Camps, p. 3 their NJTL coach as having excellent grades, This year’s contest boasted some changes, sportsmanship, leadership, and citizenship. The including a new question: “How do you Below is a list of the 10 national essay contest tryouts mimicked the format of the Valspar exemplify the ideals of Arthur Ashe?” The winners. These young men and women were Conveying the Ideals of Arthur Challenge, which includes 30s of forehands and new question allows kids to think about the chosen because of their motivational essays Ashe, p. 4 30s of backhands aimed at 6 targets across the qualities that Ashe possessed and then asks and their interpretations of how they embody court. The highest number of targets hit pro- them to think about themselves and how they the character and ideals of Arthur Ashe. duced winners. 2008 Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest Winners, p. 4 2008 NJTL Pre-Show Competitors were: • Carl Reid, 13, Tenacity, Inc. 2008 Arthur Ashe Essay Contest The Artistry of • Amanda Albuquerque , 16, Sportsmen’s Tennis Club National Winners Arthur Ashe Latest Events • Arielle Griffin , 13, NYJTL

• Chris Jimenez , 15, NYJTL For the first time since the contest’s inception, USTA/ Arthur Ashe Essay Contest Weekend Boys 10s …Andrew Yip, Honolulu, HI, Girls 10s ...Emma Crush, Prospect, KY, NJTL has added an artwork portion to the 2008 Arthur • Myron Davis , 13, Prince George’s Tennis Kilauea Junior Tennis Club Rising Stars of Kentucky Ashe Essay Contest. Boys and girls ages 12 and under August 22 – 24 and Education Foundation were encouraged to show how they exemplify Arthur Ashe • Kenya Colbert , 15, Prince George’s Boys 12s …Ethan Turner, Renfrew, PA, Girls 12 ...Caitlyn Harris, Chicago, IL, through artwork. Of the 1,220 submissions, the following Arthur Ashe Kids Day Tennis and Education Foundation Butler Junior Tennis Association Chicago Prairie were selected as national winners: Saturday, August 23 • Michael Zhu , 16, Junior Tennis Champion Center Boys 14s …Zach Elliot, Mercer Island, WA, Girls 14s ...Michelle Matoke, Raleigh, NC, • Owen Henss , Boys 10s, NJTL of Indianapolis • Hai-Li Kong , 13, Junior Tennis Robinswood Tennis Center NJTL of Raleigh • Felix d’Hermillon , Boys 10s, AAYTE 2008 US Open Champion Center

• Nasyria Taylor , Girls 10s, NJYTL August 25-September 7 • Steven Chen , 18, Arthur Ashe Youth Boys 16s …Kedzie J. White, Memphis, TN, Girls 16s ...Chelsea Windham, Seaside, CA, Tennis & Education Tennis Memphis Highland Elementary School • Katwmn Tuchschere , Girls 10s, NYJTL • Ayinde Hall , Boys 12s, Zina Garrision Academy Semi-Annual Meeting • Kiara Ocasio , 17, Arthur Ashe Youth Boys 18s ...Tajh Jones, Jamaica, NY, Girls 18s ...Nacona Davis, Desoto, TX, • Kyle Wooten , Boys 12s, Robinswood NJTL August 30 – September 3 Tennis & Education New York Junior Tennis League Dallas Tennis Association • Havalah Edwards , Girls 12s, NJTL of Indianapolis The 30 minute Pre-Show included a warm-up • Simone Parker , Girls 12s, Dallas Tennis Association

Reach Out, Department of Outreach and Advocacy Newsletter, Summer 2008

Mission Statement NJTL Initiative The National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) seeks to develop the character of young people through tennis and to emphasize the ideals of Arthur Ashe by:

Announces Second • Reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play the sport • Instilling in youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence Year Grants • Giving youngsters the opportunity to fully develop their tennis skills so they can derive a lifetime of enjoyment from the sport

he Ford Foundation has needs of these shifting sands com- For more information about NJTL, its programs, or registration, please visit our website at www.usta.com/njtl or contact us by phone at 914.696.7037 continued its commit- munities. ment to the NJTL Com- munity Building Initia- The five chapters selected through Ttive for a second year and in- a competitive proposal process Leadership and Tennis creased its investment to are: Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis $450,000. USTA Serves, for- and Education (AAYTE) in Phila- merly known as the USTA Tennis delphia, PA; MaliVai Washington Come Together in & Education Foundation, has also Kids Foundation in Jacksonville, committed $300,000 of its donor- FL; Milwaukee Tennis and Edu- Washington, DC raised funds to the Initiative. A cation Foundation in Milwaukee, third private foundation has also WI; Tenacity, Inc. in Boston, supported the initiative with a MA; and Tennis Memphis in he 2008 USTA/NJTL Tennis Team Tennis (WTT) match. $150,000 grant which has enabled Memphis, TN. Leadership Camp (TLC) was nd th us to add Tennis Memphis as the held from July 22 – 28 at the Special guest speakers included Martin fifth programming site. Including The five chapters were selected Catholic University of America Blackman, Director of Junior Tennis Two NJTL Chapters Tin Washington DC. 40 boys and girls Champion Center and former ATP the chapters’ local match require- because of their plans to not only ment, the initiative focuses over change the lives of the youngsters from across the country were nominated player; Greg Patton, Coach of Boise State $1M on growing tennis in the five they serve, but also contribute to Selected for Capacity by their local chapter leader to attend the Tennis Team and the St. Louis Aces selected communities. community development goals of week-long camp designed to teach and WTT team; and John Hall, New York an entire community. The re- Building Grant inspire the values of civic engagement, Congressman for the 19th District. “This grant is succeeding in ways quired matching funding by the academic excellence, and leadership. neither Miguel [Garcia, former selected chapters, coupled with “This NJTL camp fulfills Arthur Ashe’s Ford Foundation Program Offi- the funding provided by the par- hrough funding from an who would otherwise never play the The camp is exclusively for youth, ages dream of teaching America’s youth the cer] nor I envisioned four years ticipating foundations, will be anonymous New York game of tennis. 12-14, who participate in National Junior values of humanitarianism, leadership ago when we mapped out the used to overcome issues such as foundation, USTA/NJTL Tennis League (NJTL) programs nation- and academic achievement,” said Barry framework,” says Dan Limbago, gang violence, childhood obesity, was again able to offer two “Amber Marino and Dan Faber, wide. The attendees were selected Ford, USTA’s Director of Outreach & NJTL National Manager. dangerously elevated high school Tcapacity building grants to NJTL together with their Boards of Direc- through an application process consider- Advocacy. “With the camp’s emphasis “Taking on these issues in this drop out rates, neighborhood chapters who are poised for dramatic tors, have impressed me from day ing their tennis talent, sportsmanship, on leadership development, physical way is difficult and slow work, blight, and other serious issues growth. Each grant is worth $25,000 one with their dedication and tangi- leadership skills, and financial need. fitness, good nutrition and sportsmanship, and the chapters have all re- that plague America’s cities. per year for two years, and is meant ble commitment to the longevity of we hope that today’s attendees will be- sponded wonderfully to the chal- to bolster the administrative, staff- their organizations,” says Dan Lim- The all-expense paid week-long trip pro- come tomorrow’s leaders.” lenges.” This initiative is an innovative ing, and fundraising ability of the bago. “This is clearly an avocation vided the campers with valuable tennis effort to re-imagine the role of grantees. for these groups and this grant instruction plus a rewarding educational The USTA/NJTL Tennis Leadership The Community Building Initia- recreational facilities in changing should be understood as a reward as and motivational experience. In addition Camp was created in 1984 to provide an tive began with the belief that communities. It builds on the “Organizations can go bankrupt on much as it is a strategic investment.” to 2-3 hours of daily tennis training with educational as well as motivational tennis local NJTL chapters can use tradi- work, experience, and assets of just programming dollars,” says Dan experienced tennis teachers, the attendees experience for NJTL participants who tional and non-traditional tennis strong tennis and education com- Limbago, NJTL Manager. “What I In order to be eligible for the Capac- visited landmark Washington, DC desti- could not otherwise afford such an oppor- facilities, coupled with innovative munity organizations (aka NJTL nations including The Capitol, the Na- tunity. The camp is designed to provide hear from the field and read in the ity Building grant, chapters must Five Things I Learned at NJTL Leadership Camp: programming and partnerships, to chapters). Lessons being learned literature is that grantees need more apply and be accepted to the NJTL tional Monuments, and more. They also NJTL participants with a become vital community re- are also being captured and will than small program grants. They Capacity Building program. Addi- experienced a Washington Kastles World life-lasting experience. A Short Essay sources in “shifting sands be shared with the entire network, need money to hire staff to fundraise tionally, grantees must separate By James Jackson, neighborhoods.” as well as the broader recreation The USTA/NJTL encourages sections to host their own regional NJTL Tennis Prince George Tennis and Education Program and coordinate on-court and off- themselves from that already elite community, so that others may court activities of these growing crowd by implementing proven busi- Leadership Camps. USTA Texas, USTA Southern, and USTA Northern Cali- The goals of the initiative are to learn from our work and apply the companies.” ness practices such as creating a fornia have taken the initiative to coordinate their own camps. If you would NJTL Leadership Camp was a great experience. I learned a lot from the strengthen the capacity of the five lessons locally. strong and involved Board of Direc- like to learn more about either the national or regional tennis leadership camps, counselors and the guest speakers, about the makings of a great tennis selected NJTL chapters to become In July, a team of USTA/NJTL staff tors, raising significant private and please send us an e-mail at [email protected]. player, and what it takes to be a leader. It was humbling, to say the least, vital institutions in their commu- being one of the forty campers chosen out of 230,000 eligible student ath- and volunteers, together with USTA public resources, and of course de- letes; especially since I feel like I underestimated the intensity of the camp. nities, build relationships between Serves, selected two notable NJTL livering tennis and education pro- USTA Southern Regional Tennis Leadership Camp It made me realize that this was a privilege and in order to fully gain from people of disparate races, ethnici- chapters as recipients of the Capacity gramming of the highest quality. The USTA Southern Section held its first ever regional Tennis Leadership Camp the camp I would have to be at my best, because I knew that that was what ties, incomes, and ages, give Building grant. 15-Love in Albany, Among many other factors, the or- from June 5th-June 8th. The event took place at the University of Alabama at my parents, my foundation, and most of all what I ought to demand of my- voice to the voiceless, and NY and the NJTL of Trenton in ganization must have on-court pro- Birmingham. self. The tennis experience was great (even though I never got to see the Washington Kastles play), I made many new friends, and met many notable contribute to filling the identified Trenton, NJ were chosen from the gram(s) operating on a minimum of 18-member Capacity Building co- 20 courts and must be located in a politicians while touring through the heart of D.C. However, I have to say hort. These programs have commit- metro area with a minimum popula- USTA Northern California Junior Training Camp that through all my time there, the most rewarding experience I gained from the leadership camp was through the character development. And, of the tion of 100,000 people (with a mini- The USTA Northern California Section held two regional Junior Training Camps, ted their resources and efforts to many lessons I learned while at camp, there are five that I believe have had “For every hour spent on the playing field, two fulfilling the USTA’s mission of mum of 30% being multicultural). one for boys (July 7th -10th) and one for girls (July 14th -17th). the most influence on me. First: What I do affects other people. Secondly: should be spent with a book.” promoting and developing the There is no substitute for hard work! Thirdly: The best tennis players have growth of tennis by building large, USTA Texas Regional Tennis Leadership Camp the best attitudes. Forth: Lead by example. Lastly: A great leader is some- – Arthur Ashe, Founder, USTA/NJTL self-sustaining organizations that The USTA Texas Section, in participation with the University of Texas, hosted a one whose character motivates those around them. Again, it was a great primarily reach underserved youth regional Tennis Leadership Camp Thursday, August 14th through Sunday, August experience, and I am glad I was able to be a part of the camp because of 17th, 2008. how I feel I have become a better person, sportsman, and leader from it.

Reach Out, Department of Outreach and Advocacy Newsletter, Summer 2008 Reach Out, Department of Outreach and Advocacy Newsletter, Summer 2008