GEICO to Help Train Young Players
WASHINGTON — Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, the Washington, D.C., Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), GEICO, and the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) are working together to expand high quality tennis instruction to young people in the District of Columbia. The partnership will be formally announced at a press conference on Tuesday, May 11 at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, Northeast D.C., 10:45 a.m.
The three entities have created GAME ON, an initiative to select the most talented and motivated young tennis players in D.C. and help fund training for them that could lead to scholarships at colleges and universities.
Players are invited to join JTCC’s training program on the basis of athletic ability, desire to succeed and ability to concentrate on the sport.
JTCC’s developmental program has shown consistent results in placing students at the top colleges and universities in the United States. Since its inception in 1999, 50 out of 53 JTCC graduates have earned Division I and II scholarships or facilitated acceptance to a non-scholarship school.
JTCC has received a challenge grant from GEICO and the D.C. Government with JTCC matching all funds raised. The total raised through the challenge grant will fund scholarships for youth identified in the tennis programs established by DPR and JTCC.
In addition, all event proceeds from the May 20 - 21 GEICO Champions Celebration, JTCC’s annual fundraiser, will be 100% matched and benefit GAME ON. Every dollar raised will go directly to full year scholarships for D.C. children in JTCC’s Advanced Development and Junior Champion programs.
Each student will also receive tennis and fitness training and individual mentoring for three hours a day, three times a week for eleven months. In addition, each child will receive a new racquet, a new pair of tennis shoes, and tennis clothing.
