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USPTA Pros Raise More Than $4 Million for Charity

In 2009, United States Professional Tennis Association teaching professionals raised just over $4 million for charity through the association’s Lessons for Life™ program.

“Our members continue to stay committed to raising money for important charitable causes, while at the same time bringing their communities together through these efforts with tennis,” said Diane Selke, Lessons for Life chair, USPTA Master Professional and head tennis professional at Valley Country Club in Aurora, Colo.

A variety of charities benefit each year from the USPTA’s Lessons for Life program, including the American Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Scripps Stevens Cancer Center, and many other national and local charities.

Lessons for Life became USPTA’s national charitable program in 1999. The USPTA and its members have raised more than $40 million since the program’s inception. Through this program, the USPTA encourages its members to use tennis as a vehicle to help others through fundraisers and other activities in their communities. Many of the fundraisers take place at country clubs and commercial clubs, where the majority of USPTA Professionals direct tennis operations and programming. Fundraisers take the form of tournaments, pro-ams, auctions, black-tie dinners and clinics.

In 2009 USPTA and Rally for the Cure joined forces to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer through tennis and Lessons for Life under the broader Tennis - for the health of it! initiative. Rally for the Cure has the tools and materials for USPTA tennis-teaching professionals interested in running a Lessons for Life charity tennis event in support of Rally for the Cure. This is just one more way USPTA teaching professionals can give to important causes through tennis and Lessons for Life.

Lessons for Life is officially celebrated in October, but events may be hosted any time during the year. People who are interested in participating in a Lessons for Life event should contact a USPTA Professional in their area. USPTA’s Find-A-Pro service is available at www.usptafindapro.com or by calling 800-USPTA-4U for help locating a USPTA Professional.

Posted on February 10, 2010
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