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Carillo Named President of USTA Serves

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The USTA announced today that former French Open mixed doubles champion and Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Mary Carillo has been named President of USTA Serves - Foundation for Academics. Character. Excellence., the philanthropic and charitable entity of the USTA. In this role, Carillo will serve as the principle spokesperson for the 16-year-old Foundation and will augment its mission of changing lives through tennis and education.

USTA Serves has disbursed over $10 million to fund hundreds of programs in more than 120 cities in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More than 150,000 children have received tennis, education, and health and wellness support, including more than 16 million hours of mentoring, tutoring and nutrition guidance. In addition, the Foundation has awarded more than 400 scholarships to college-bound students.

“Mary has excelled in all of her endeavors, from the tennis court to the broadcast booth,” said Lucy S. Garvin, President and Chairman of the Board, USTA. “She is an ideal choice to represent the USTA Serves Foundation and inspire young people to achieve their dreams through tennis and education.”

“Mary has been a long-time supporter of USTA Serves and understands that combining tennis and education can be a strong and positive force for improving the lives of young people and people with disabilities,” said Deborah Slaner Larkin, Executive Director, USTA Serves. “Her position as a broadcaster gives us an additional platform so that even more programs will come to us for assistance.”

Carillo was a professional tennis player from 1977 to 1980, when her career was cut short by a knee injury. In 1977, she partnered with John McEnroe to win the French Open mixed doubles title. The pair also reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon that year, and Carillo reached the women’s doubles quarterfinals at the US Open as well.

Following her retirement, Carillo embarked on a career in journalism, and has served as a tennis analyst for NBC, CBS, ESPN, HBO and USA Network. She also has been a mainstay on NBC’s Olympic Games coverage. Carillo has received numerous accolades for her work, including a Sports Emmy Award. She has been named Best Commentator by Tennis Magazine and Broadcaster of the Year by the WTA.

Carillo will assume the role previously held by Patrick McEnroe, who served as President of USTA Serves since January, 2006. Prior to being named President of the Foundation, Carillo was elected to the USTA Serves Board of Directors, and since 2003 she also has served on the USTA Serves Professional Player Advisory Council.

Carillo currently splits her time between New York and Naples, Fla.

Posted on April 8, 2010
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