FORD

The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation (MWKF) was awarded a $100,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association in partnership with the Ford Foundation. MWKF will partner with the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) in their first collaborative effort. The organizations will partner in an initiative to “build community through tennis”. Of the over 500 NJTL (youth tennis & education program) nationwide, only three other cities (Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Boston were chosen to use tennis to reach out to the community to build social cohesion.

MWKF and NJCDC will offer joint programs as well as expanded individual programs primarily in the Durkeeville area. Youth will receive tennis and life lessons as well as academic assistance and career/college preparatory programs while their extended families receive additional services to help address the social problems that often plague the Northside Community. The NJCDC and MWKF partnership will offer homeownership education and post homeownership counseling for the community at large as well as a comprehensive expansion of the educational and community services currently provided for MWKF families. The first projects of the partnership with be a Leadership Camp for MWKF teens and a Health and Neighborhood Day planned for June 16, 2007 that will attract non-profits from throughout the city of Jacksonville that typically address community social issues. This event is being planned for the Simmond Johnson Park on Moncrief Road from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

One of the major initiatives of this new program will be research on the utilization of the new Youth Tennis & Education Complex to serve the community in ways beyond tennis.

For more information regarding this grant, call Terri Florio, Executive Director of MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation at (904) 301-3786 or Paul Tutwiler, Executive Director of Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation at (904) 483-0138.
########
The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation (MWKF) utilizes tennis as a tool to improve academic performance, self-confidence and youth. Our TnT (tennis & tutoring program) currently located at the Emmett Reed Center serves more than 100 youth daily from 1st grade through high school.

The Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) improves the quality of life in their neighborhood in a way that embraces economic diversity, makes businesses eager to invest, honors area history, and creates a thriving community for families.

About Us | News Room | Events | Calendar | Contribute | Contact Us