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Florida Cabinet Formally Accepts New Play Tennis Specialty License Plate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 2, 2008 — DAYTONA BEACH - The new State of Florida Tennis License plate was formally accepted at a meeting of the Florida Cabinet on Sept. 30, 2008 at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. Electra Theodorides-Bustle, Executive Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) respectfully submitted the plate on behalf of the USTA Florida Section Foundation. Gov. Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum, and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, unanimously approved the Florida Tennis specialty license plate, which becomes the first tennis license plate in the state of Florida.

“On behalf of the USTA Florida Section Foundation and USTA Florida, we are thrilled to be a part of this very special day in the history of Florida Tennis,” said Linda Curtis, Director of Community Tennis, USTA Florida. “We are very excited about the possibilities that the revenue from the license plate will bring to the citizens and the visitors of Florida for many years to come.”

Individuals who purchase the license plate will not only be a part of tennis history in Florida, but they have an opportunity to show their love of the sport and feel good doing it - knowing that they are giving back to their communities.

“With the foundation’s mission “to improve the health and quality of life for all Floridians through tennis” we will now have even more opportunities for children and adults of all ages and all abilities to learn and play tennis at quality facilities across the state,” said Jean Mills, USTA Florida Section Foundation President and Director of Tennis, Polo Club Boca Raton. “The proceeds of the Play Tennis license plate will allow the foundation to assist other non-profit organizations so they can create tennis programs for our Florida youth, operate tennis programs for people with special needs of all ages, and for the building and renovating of quality public tennis facilities.”

Tennis is the fastest growing traditional sport in the United States and with 2 million players in Florida alone, final Cabinet approval for the specialty plate ensures that USTA Florida and the Section Foundation will help provide the infrastructure of tennis courts and quality programs on those courts to match the future growth of tennis.

“The exciting possibilities of this accomplishment by the Florida Section Foundation are huge,” said Celia Rehm, USTA Florida President. “We are asking the multitude of tennis players and tennis enthusiasts in Florida to continue to show their passion for tennis and help us expand the visibility of the tennis brand exponentially by purchasing a Play Tennis specialty plate.”

Designed by USTA Florida League Tennis Assistant, Dona Garcia, the new Florida Tennis license plate is expected to be available for statewide purchase by tennis fans and community supporters by January 2009.

Posted on October 2, 2008
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