By: USTA Florida Foundation Staff

For the first time in its history the Orlando-based Women’s Amateur Invitational Tennis (W.A.I.T.) C League partnered with the USTA Florida Section Foundation to raise a record $26,577 to support a local youth T.E.A.M. Junior Tennis program serving the Parramore community. The league, which includes nearly 600 women players, smashed its original goal of raising $15,000 to help bring the T.E.A.M. mission of “affecting the path of local youth in communities through academic tutoring, health and wellness education, family coaching and tennis instruction” to life within their hometown.

The league used the online donation platform provided through the USTA Florida Foundation to raise money throughout the season.  Donors of various levels received special beads to wear at the group’s Mardi-Gras themed, end-of-season luncheon to recognize their generosity.  At the banquet, each team in the league provided a basket to raffle off during the event.  They sold a record number of tickets, more than doubling the amount of funds raised the previous year.

“Having more knowledge of where the money was going and how evidently it was going to help the children in the Parramore area helped us sell a record-breaking number of raffle tickets.  The Parramore program was something that the ladies of the league could be a real part of throughout the entire year, not a distant charity we have no further involvement with,” said Stephanie Maughan, 2019-2020 W.A.I.T. C President.

T.E.A.M. Junior Tennis was founded to reach, empower and equip children with the life skills and knowledge necessary to become important contributing members of their immediate communities. Their programs provide tutoring in all subjects covered by state assessment tests, along with tutoring for current class work, while also providing high-quality tennis lessons to ensure that no child is denied access or opportunity to experience the sport of a lifetime.

In addition to the monetary donation, the W.A.I.T. C League has also pledged volunteer hours on-court and for educational support of the program, along with gathering traditional soft goods the athletes can wear while playing.

Maughan says she would urge other tennis leagues and facilities to partner with the USTA Florida Section Foundation to raise funds for more local tennis programs.

“You immediately have something in common with the program:  your love of tennis. We understand how tennis helps us; it’s a good emotional outlet and the friendships that grow from playing together can build a support family for you in times of difficulty. This is a great way to impact your local community by giving kids constructive ways to use their time after school and encouraging academic success,” she explained.

With a mission of “Changing Lives through Tennis,” the USTA Florida Section Foundation provides financial support to organizations that help people of all ages and abilities improve their health and quality of life through the great game of tennis.

For more information on how you can partner with the USTA Florida Section Foundation to help raise funds for programs in your community, visit the Foundation contact page and express your interest in changing lives through tennis for your area of the state.