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News Releases
USTA TO MAKE $250,000 CONTRIBUTION
TO MALIVAI WASHINGTON KIDS FOUNDATION
Grant is Part of Public Facility Funding Grant Program to Support Local Park and Recreation Agencies and Improve the Quality of Community Tennis Programs
Jacksonville, FL., March 22, 2006 - The United States Tennis Association today announced that with the USTA Florida Section it will make a contribution of $250,000 to the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation's (MWKF) Capital Campaign. The donation will be presented to the MWKF on March 22, 2006 at the Emmet Reed Community Center during a press conference, which will begin at 11:00 a.m.
"The USTA recognizes the importance of quality public tennis facilities for the growth and success of our sport," said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA.
The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation is helping to ensure that great tennis facilities and programs are available in Jacksonville,"
"We are extremely excited and thankful to receive this donation from the USTA," said MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation Founder and President, MaliVai Washington. "As we move forward with the beginning stages of building the our new Youth Tennis and Education Complex, I am thrilled that our efforts to serve Jacksonville's youth are being recognized by the national tennis community."
To help support public tennis facility enhancements, renovations, and new construction projects the USTA allocated over $2.5 million through the Public Facility Funding Grant in 2005. The USTA and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has also developed the Tennis in the Parks Community Initiative to support local park and recreation agencies eager to increase tennis participation by improving the quality of their community tennis programs. MWKF is receiving $200,000 from the USTA and a 25% matching grant of $50,000 from USTA Florida.
Attending the grant presentation will be: Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA; John Korff, Director at Large, Board of Directors, USTA; Virgil Christian, Director, Community Tennis Development, USTA; Doug Booth, Executive Director, USTA Florida; Andy McFarland, Associate Executive Director, Community Tennis, USTA Florida; Linda Curtis, Director, Community Tennis Development, USTA Florida; MaliVai Washington, MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation Founder and President; John Peyton, Mayor, Jacksonville, Fla.; Celia Rehm, President-Elect, USTA Florida; John Rutherford, Sheriff, Jacksonville, Fla.
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The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation (MWKF) was established by '96 Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington to introduce tennis as a tool to develop positive life skills and encourage academic achievement in youth who otherwise might not be exposed to the sport. MWKF runs a comprehensive five-day-a-week after-school program in Durkeeville and has introduced tennis into the lives of more than 14,000 local children. For more information about programs, events and/or activities visit www.malwashington.com.
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. It owns and operates the US Open, the largest annually attended sporting event in the world, and launched the US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. A not-for-profit organization with 665,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. In addition, it owns the 94 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.
For more information, contact:
Seth Sylvan, Director, Community Tennis Communications, USTA
Sylvan@USTA.com, (914) 696-7088
Ben Pennymon
ben@malwashington.com, (904)301-3786 ext.307
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