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USTA Serves Awards $252,000 in 'Aces for Kids' Grants to 13 Organizations

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — USTA Serves - Foundation for Academics. Character. Excellence. (ACE), the philanthropic and charitable entity of the United States Tennis Association, announced today that it has awarded 13 grants in its 2009 spring Aces for Kids funding cycle, totaling $252,000.

USTA Serves awards grants to programs that successfully combine tennis and education and help children pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens.

Aces for Kids, a national initiative of USTA Serves, strives to promote healthy lifestyles by combating childhood/adult obesity by providing disadvantaged, at-risk children the opportunity to learn to play tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format. At Aces for Kids program sites, children between the ages of 5-18 learn about healthy nutrition and lifestyles, responsible citizenship, study skills, and computer literacy. They are often afforded the opportunity to interact with a mentor and other students, attend college preparatory sessions, and learn to play tennis in a team format.

“The goal of these incredible programs is to help children learn to make healthy lifestyle choices, teach life skills and support and encourage academic success,” said Karen Martin-Eliezer, Chief Executive, USTA Serves. “The collaborative efforts and financial assistance of the USTA and numerous corporations and individual donors has allowed us to allocate funds to these worthwhile, life-changing organizations.”

The following programs were awarded 2009 spring Aces for Kids grants by USTA Serves:

Apple Ridge Farm, Roanoke, Va.
Dallas Tennis Association, Addison, Texas
First Serve New Mexico, Santa Fe, N.M.
Greater Baltimore Tennis Patrons, Baltimore, Md.
Holliday Park Kids, Topeka, Kan.
King Street Youth Center, Burlington, Vt.
NJTL of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind.
Net Results Junior Tennis, Denver, Colo.
Special Olympics Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, Arecibo, P.R.
White Plains Youth Bureau/Memorial Methodist Church, White Plains, N.Y.
Zina Garrison All-Court Tennis Academy, Houston, Texas

Posted on July 8, 2009
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