USTA FOUNDATION

Funds are part of the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund,which aims to support the National Junior Tennis & Learning Network

COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 11, 2024 – The USTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association Incorporated (USTA), awarded a $50,000 grant to the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Md. Professional tennis player and JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe presented the grant Wednesday at the JTCC’s GEICO Champions Celebration presented by Amazon and the Bisnow Family. The funds will help support JTCC programming.

The grant is part of the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund, established in July 2023, which aims to support the foundation’s flagship National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network. The network, created in 1969 by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, provides under-resourced youth with free or low-cost tennis and academic programming, helping facilitate their success both on and off the court. As someone who grew up in the NJTL network, the mission of the USTA Foundation is personal to Tiafoe and pivotal in his tennis journey. He started playing the game at JTCC when he was 4 years old; his father served as the facility’s head of maintenance after immigrating from Sierra Leone in 1996.

Today, the NJTL network includes more than 250 chapters and reaches more than 150,000 youth nationwide. The Frances Tiafoe Fund is utilized, in part, to support chapters such as JTCC, which every year provides more than 1,400 youth with tutoring, tennis instruction, life skills training, college preparation and tennis equipment.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of everyone at JTCC,” said Tiafoe. “It means a lot to me to be able to pay it forward and help the next generation of kids have access to the same opportunities as I did. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to give back through the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund.”

“For 25 years, JTCC has transformed lives through sport and education by providing tennis for everybody, and we are proud of the impact we’ve made in Prince George’s County and beyond,” said Ray Benton, JTCC CEO. “Frances is an incredible role model to kids everywhere, and it’s an honor to have him return to the place where it all started and help us move our mission forward.”

“Frances has turned his success on the court into a platform for advocacy, passionately working to ensure that under-resourced youth have the opportunity to unlock their potential through tennis and education,” said USTA Foundation CEO Ginny Ehrlich. “His commitment to opening doors for the next generation reflects not only his exceptional character but also his belief in the transformative power of sport and learning.”

To learn more about the Frances Tiafoe Fund and the USTA Foundation, please visit ustafoundation.com and follow @USTAFoundation on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

—USTA

PURCHASE, N.Y. July 27, 2023 – The USTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association Incorporated (USTA), today joined world No. 10 Frances Tiafoe to launch The Frances Tiafoe Fund. The announcement was made Thursday at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Md., the place where the American tennis star first fell in love with the sport, followed by a clinic in which Tiafoe had the opportunity to interact with local youth.

Tiafoe, who broke into the ATP Top 10 for the first time in his career on June 19 after winning his second title of 2023 at the Boss Open in Stuttgart, hopes the Fund will be a source of positive social change by supporting the mission of the USTA Foundation with a special emphasis on the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network. The network, which now consists of more than 270 chapters nationwide, was originally created in 1969 by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, and provides under-resourced youth with free or low-cost tennis and education programming, helping them to succeed both on and off the court. The Frances Tiafoe Fund will work closely with NJTL chapters nationwide.

“I’m so excited for this opportunity to work with the USTA Foundation and inspire kids who come from my hometown and beyond,” Tiafoe said. “One of my priorities has always been to show kids that dreams can come true and that success is in everyone – and this Fund is just one step further toward that goal.”

As someone who grew up in the NJTL network, the mission of the USTA Foundation is personal to Tiafoe and pivotal to his tennis journey. He started playing the game at age four at the JTCC, a NJTL chapter where his father served as the head of maintenance after immigrating from Sierra Leone in 1996.

“Frances Tiafoe is a role model for so many kids in Prince George’s County and across the country,” said Kathleen Wu, USTA Foundation Board President. “He’s not just a talented tennis player, he’s also a dedicated philanthropist who is committed to giving back to his community. The Frances Tiafoe Fund is a shining example of his commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. I’m so grateful to Frances for his work with the USTA Foundation, and I’m excited to see how the Fund will continue to inspire and empower kids from all backgrounds.”

To celebrate this launch, many of Tiafoe’s brand partners have pledged to support his efforts and intend to contribute to the fund.

To learn more about The Frances Tiafoe Fund and the USTA Foundation, please visit ustafoundation.com and follow @USTAFoundation on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.