Through Youth Tennis Advantage, Lives are Changed ...
Bank of the West Sponsors YTA’s Aces for Kids Fundraiser
Youth Tennis Advantage’s (YTA) annual ‘Aces for Kids’ fundraiser, which involves YTA supporters raising money for YTA programs based on the number of aces served during the Bank of the West Classic, will get an infusion of much-needed funding this year from the tournament’s sponsor, Bank of the West. This year, Bank of the West will donate $50 for each of the first 200 pledges made to the Aces for Kids campaign. This new sponsorship will greatly enhance YTA’s ability to raise the funds needed to keep YTA’s Bay Area after-school programs in operation.
“’Aces for Kids' is one of the most exciting events that donors enjoy participating in. It is crucial to YTA’s fundraising efforts because it impacts our ability to keep our programs operational,” said Loretta Conway, Executive Director of Youth Tennis Advantage. “We’re especially thankful for Bank of the West providing this extra incentive for supporters to help us financially and add a fun new element to an awesome tournament,“ she added.
YTA is currently accepting pledges for ‘Aces for Kids’ and will continue to accept pledges and donations from now through the duration of the Bank of the West Tennis Classic.
Also, anyone planning to attend sessions 1-8 of the 2009 Bank of the West tournament YTA is encouraged to purchase tickets directly from the YTA office, which will further help the organization raise needed funds. For more information about pledging to Aces for Kids and purchasing tournament tickets, contact Loretta Conway at 510-663-6586, or ytaloretta@yahoo.com.
Help Make A Difference Today!
Donations to YTA help provide Tennis, Academics and Life Skill activities to hundreds of Bay Area children that might not other wise have these opportunities.
Blue Shield of California To Sponsor 7th Annual 'For The Kids' Dinner' at 2009 Bank of the West Tennis Classic
California’s insurance giant, Blue Shield of California is providing coverage for YTA in the form of sponsoring YTA’s annual ‘For the Kids’ dinner. The annual dinner which attracts 200 or more guests each year, is a major fundraising event for YTA. This year’s dinner features Barry McKay as master of ceremonies. The event includes dinner, a live auction, an awards ceremony and tickets to the evening tennis matches. Awards slated for this year’s dinner will include the Arthur Ashe Excellence Award being presented to Frank (Buz) Walters. This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a sincere commitment to underserved youth and communities through his/her personal, professional, or social efforts. YTA will be announcing a new award, YTA Scholar Athlete Emeritus, to honor a young person who has developed well beyond the YTA program and uses his/her collegiate experiences to give back to the community or YTA in some demonstrative way. This year’s Scholar Athlete Emeritus is Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong, graduating senior and member of the men’s tennis team at Santa Clara University. The ‘For the Kids’ dinner will be held in the Bank of the West hospitality tent near the Taube Family Tennis Center at Stanford University 5:00 – 7:00 pm on July 29th.
Details about attending the dinner or helping with event preparations can be discussed with Loretta Conway, who can be reached at 510-663-6586, or by emailing her at ytaloretta@yahoo.com.
Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest Deadline is June 26th
Arthur Ashe was clearly an American hero. In addition to breaking barriers in the tennis world, becoming a three-time grand slam champion, and being the first African American man to win a grand slam tournament, Ashe was also known for a compelling life off the tennis court. For example, his personal battle after being diagnosed with AIDS from a blood transfusion is well known, however, Ashe was also a fervent humanitarian and social activist against apartheid in South Africa and racial prejudice here in the U.S. He was also a passionate advocate for helping underserved children achieve academic and tennis success through an afterschool program which would support them in their effort. Ashe’s passion led to the forming of the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL), a network of youth serving organizations that provide tennis and education for all.
Ashe’s vision was for the NJTL to become a community resource for kids to develop skills for leadership and academic excellence. It is through the NJTL of which YTA is a proud member, where each year, YTA students are provided the opportunity to participate in an Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest. The contest encourages participants to remember Ashe and the legacy by writing about him and/or submitting artwork depicting his importance to the child submitting the entry. YTA wants to encourage all of its youth members, age 18 and under to participate in this valuable opportunity to learn more about Ashe. Winners will receive tickets to the U.S. Open taking place later this year in New York, invited to participate in Arthur Ashe Day at the U.S. Open, and receive lodging and lodging for a parent to accompany him/her. Contest entry details are available at www.usta.com/njtl
YTA’s Volunteers Give and Get in Equal Measure
Over the years, Youth Tennis Advantage (YTA) has been fortunate to cultivate numerous volunteers for whom their love of tennis and the joy derived from helping young people grow into dynamic young adults, is practically legendary for those long associated with the organization. Doesn’t matter if the volunteers are youngsters themselves, or more seasoned citizens, all agree that the experience of volunteerism at YTA is just as rewarding to them personally, as it is reaping extraordinary rewards from helping to improve and change the lives of others.
Jay Bhayani is a perfect example of a junior volunteer for YTA. Although Jay is a high school student, he found that his passion for teaching tennis was just as exciting as playing it.
“I have always loved to play tennis and have always held a passion for teaching,” he said. “When I learned that YTA offered both, I immediately volunteered to help at the Marin City afterschool site.” Jay described how volunteering to help one particular youngster was both rewarding and motivating.
“I found myself preparing new things for him and others to learn every week and because each of the kids was so eager to learn, I always try to introduce new skills to them.”
Jeannie Nguyen, a pre med student attending UC Berkeley, is another example of a stellar YTA volunteer. Jeannie who is a former YTA youth, returned to the organization as a junior instructor and then worked as Site Director for the Bear Trax program. Jeannie is now a volunteer for YTA and credits YTA with helping her evolve into the young woman she’s become.
“Before I was associated to YTA, I always played tennis with my brother at nearby tennis courts,” she said. “My father started us out in sports in high hopes to stay away from violence and drugs, which the environment where I attended school. I only knew.
Being affiliated with YTA has been most rewarding. As a result spending my youth in the YTA program, and my parents, I learned the importance of school.”
Jeannie and Jay are but two solid examples of how volunteering has proven a most rewarding experience. Although representing two different generations, Jeannie and Jay have proven their desire to give of themselves, is exceeded only by the wonderful pleasure of getting confirmation that lives can change and blossom in miraculous ways when others care to take the time.
Bear Trax, YTA and First Serve Up In Lights!
The YTA partnership with U.C. Berkeley grows stronger
as new families discover this exciting after school program.
Terry Stewart Named Director of Programs for YTA
Considering his 20 years experience coaching YTA kids, advocating on behalf of youngsters’ academic and tennis ability, becoming a constant presence at Mosswood Park in Oakland, tirelessly facing the USTA and other tennis organizations to raise visibility to and about inner city needs, it makes logical sense that he’d now take on a larger role with YTA. And, this is exactly what has resulted after being promoted to Director of YTA Programs.
With Terry Stewart’s promotion to think about YTA from a much broader perspective, he will now oversee YTA programs serving the Oakland, San Francisco, and Marin City communities.
“More than anything, I’ll be looking to improve the current programs we have and enhance our kids’ participation in tournaments and in our life skills programs,” said Stewart. Stewart, who has developed a substantial adult tennis program in Oakland over the years, believes that connecting adult participation with youth programs will be crucial to finding meaningful
volunteers for the communities’ youth.
‘”There is a lot of emphasis on community volunteerism and giving back to ones community, in my new role, I will work with Loretta Conway to look at opportunities to involve adult players in ways they might not have been before,” he said.
Stewart is also enthusiastic about establishing a YTA method of teaching and coaching, one that tutors, mentors, parents, and adult volunteers can easily and quickly adopt, but underscores that his responsibilities at Mosswood Park will remain the same.
“Terry has been a foundation of this organization,” said Loretta Conway, YTA executive director, “He will be a wonderful addition in this role and will offer a tremendous amount of insight based on his years of experience and passion for youth tennis.”
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YTA’s First Revenue-Generating Program Launches in San Francisco
Youth Tennis Advantage (YTA) is embarking on a revolutionary collaboration with City of San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks department and various other community partners that will result in designing new, and improving existing, tennis programs within parks located in the city’s district 10, located at the southeast sector of the city. This community partnership effort is an extension of the Empowering Youth through Play initiative YTA launched last year. This particular project is being referred to as ‘Empowering Community through Play’.
Specifically, John McLaren Park is the site where these new programs will operate for children and adults of all abilities. Programs will launch this year and in 2010, and will be fee-based with consideration for the local residents’ ability to pay. Mostly, we will convey to the community that tennis is a fun, healthy, and wonderful way to socialize with others and become and stay physically fit. The ‘Empowering Community Through Play’ initiative will not only bring adults, teens and children together through creative tennis programs, but it will also unite the community around service projects, volunteer opportunities and fundraising projects that benefit the free YTA after school programs in the district, as well as, other tennis facilities that present and support these programs.
Initial plans for programming at John McLaren Park include, Quick Start Tennis for ages 5-10, USTA Adult and Jr. Leagues, various adult and junior clinics, round robin and social play, tournaments, and private lessons. YTA has applied to become an official tennis contractor for John McLaren Park with a percentage of all revenue produced at this site being invested in the YTA after school programs.
District 10 partners that are working with us so far are: San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, Friends of John McLaren Park, Mayor Gavin Newsom & Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, Hunter’s Point Housing Authority, The Olympic Club Foundation, Team Up For Youth, USTA and USTA NorCal and Harper for Kids with Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success and the Inch and Miles Tennis Sportsmanship Festivals. We are currently approaching local elementary, middle and high schools, the mayor’s office, the San Francisco Parks Trust, private foundations, and local businesses.
YTA needs help with our ‘Empowering Community through Play’ initiative. If you’d like to find out how you can become involved, please contact Executive Director Loretta Conway at 510-663-6586 or email her at ytaloretta@yahoo.com.
YTA Teams Up with Peanut Louie’s HarperForKids Program
Creating great opportunities for children, particularly in an educational environment is the essence of YTA’s collaboration with tennis great Peanut Louie Harper and Harper for Kids (www.harperforkids.org), a nonprofit organization she co-founded with her husband Tim Harper last year to help teach children life skills to empower them to achieve their personal best.
YTA is collaborating with HarperForKids this year when they visit public schools to deliver “COACH WOODEN FOR KIDS© Inch and Miles Sportsmanship Tennis Festivals.”
“Both the important messages of the legendary UCLA Coach Wooden, and Peanut Louie Harper’s contribution to tennis and her connection to the Bay Area, make this particular union a most auspicious one,” according to Loretta Conway, executive director of YTA.
The teachings from Coach Wooden, were immortalized in his children’s book ‘Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success’ and many of its key messages will be evident as part of a life skills sportsmanship tennis festival designed just for kids by Peanut, Steve Jamison and Harper for Kids' Coaching Staff. YTA instructors will work with Harper for Kids professionals in public schools delivering, “COACH WOODEN FOR KIDS© Inch and Miles Sportsmanship Tennis Festivals.” To learn more about where the school programs will be implemented, call Loretta Conway at 510-663-6586. To find out more about the legendary Coach Wooden, visit www.coachwooden.com .
Russell Flynn Named YTA President
With much anticipation and a full roster up of youth tennis fund-raising activities, tournaments, and many more programs that benefit Bay Area kids in the year ahead, the organization has just named Russell Flynn, President of YTA.
Russell Flynn has been a tennis player and enthusiast for more than 30 years and also a San Francisco resident and advocate for school integration in the late 1960s. His vision for change and inclusion ultimately led to diverse communities of children becoming an integral part of the educational landscape which did not exist prior. His vision for creating more opportunities for similar communities of children will be a welcome addition for YTA.
Mr. Flynn has also been a leader in a variety of civic activities and is now an active investor in Bay Area real estate. His involvement as President at YTA will help continue the momentum set forth under Dr. Ron Grant’s YTA presidency which concluded at the end of the year. We welcome Mr. Flynn to YTA and look forward to an exciting and successful leadership opportunity for YTA.
Young Athlete Breaking Barriers
Watkins with tennis great Brad Gilbert at Brad Gilbert
Tennis Nation in San Rafael
As featured in the Oakland Tribune (12/08) -
"Bay Area Youth are getting much needed encouragement by new programs put in place by the United States Tennis Association. The Northern California Section of the USTA has moved forward in reducing the disparity of African American boys in the sport. During the last few years the USTA Nor-Cal Section had very few African American boys ranked over 100 in any age brackets. This became a serious issue for the Diversity Committee who has the responsibility to raise awareness to Tennis in communities that are not normally exposed. African American participation in Tennis has historically been very low. There are many challenges for inner-city children to overcome to realize success in the sport. There are financial issues and barriers that make navigating this international sport very difficult.
To help in the development and in the effort to raise awareness to this problem the USTA Nor-Cal has helped develop inner-city programs such as Youth Tennis Advantage (YTA), the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL), and Just Cause Tennis. These organizations are non-profits that work along with the city and help promote tennis to children who would have no other opportunity to play tennis. They are designed to help promising youth of color continue to play and learn the sport of Tennis. A bright spot in the USTA Nor-Cal Search for talented Young African American males has been 12 Year Old Laurence Atkins from Oakland. He is currently the Highest ranked African American boy in his age bracket in Alameda County. Atkins has been apart of these programs for three years.
Working hard at improving his game and striving for a college scholarship. He has been awarded two grants from the USTA Diversity Committee totaling $1,000 to use in his tennis travels. Atkins was selected by the Diversity Committee to represent the Nor-Cal All-Star Traveling Team which traveled to Miami Florida to compete in the ATA National Tournament. Atkins came in First place in the Doubles Competition and Fourth in Singles. The ATA experience has given Atkins a historic perception of the sport.
As a twelve year old the late Arthur Ashe also played his first ATA Nationals. Arthur Ashe became the worlds only African American to win the coveted Wimbledon Championships in 1975. A feat that has great bearing on todays tennis psychy that a black man cannot succed in the field. While in Miami at the ATA Atkins was offered a partial scholarship to train with John Wilkerson in Houston Texas. Coach Wilkerson was the Coach of Zina Garrison. Zina, made it to the Wimbledon Championships and was the runner up to Martina Navratilova, but never received any major sponsors.
Atkins Ultimate Goal is to become nationally ranked, which will allow him to compete for Prestigious college scholarships. While in college he wants to study broadcasting and focus his tennis talent on NCAA competition. Work hard to graduate and scale the professional tennis ladder. Another form of his inspiration has been the Williams Sisters. These two African American Tennis Champions have taken the world by storm. Proving that the barriars to successful tennis does not equate to skin color. They emphasized the need for a strong foundation which Just Cause Tennis and the USTA is trying to provide through grants and sponsorships. But they cant do it alone, and are hoping to forge more partenerships with community groups and corporations."
Laurence and his brother, Joshua, were also featured at www.insidebayarea.com! Click HERE to read. 
YTA Expands Its ‘Bear Trax’ Program This Fall
Two years ago YTA’s Bear Trax program located on the UC Berkeley campus was just getting underway with sparse funding and a limited capacity to serve roughly 20 kids a few times per week. Today, the program operates year round, five days a week and can accommodate more than double the number of children and teens than it had before. Currently there are 20 exuberant youth participating in the Bear Trax program this season all of whom are focused intently on tennis techniques, as well as, equal focus on one day attending college to pursue their academic goals. Bear Trax has openings for students age 13-18, are still available on Tuesday and Thursday. The invaluable opportunity the Bear Trax program offers to many more children this year than before, is attributable to the successful fundraising effort this summer of the YTA’s Bank of the West ‘For the Kids Dinner’ where more than $100,000 was raised to expand the Bear Trax program into what it has evolved into today.
“The university loves this program,” said Peter Wright, the UC Berkeley’s Men’s Tennis Team coach who collaborates directly with YTA’s Bear Trax tennis instructor and life skills coach, Thomas White. “We believe Bear Trax brings a special experience to kids from communities who might otherwise not get the chance to visit the campus, so this was an experience we thought we could provide and help make a difference,” Wright said. His future goals include a facility dedicated specifically for the Bear Trax program to operate from exclusively, he believes it is an attainable goal given the commitment from the university, the dedication from YTA to make the program vibrant and strong, and of course the enthusiasm from the children who participate in it, and the UC Berkeley student volunteers who lend a helpful hand for the afterschool tutoring component.
Tiffany Wong, a pre-med student in her junior year at UC Berkeley is a perfect example of a college student reaching out to youngsters through this program to help coordinate aspects of Bear Trax that will help provide supportive help and guidance for children participating in the program, particularly where academics and life skills are concerned. “I enjoy the program tremendously and know that it works and that it can make a big difference in their lives. The children come into the program eager to learn, yet not clear about how to make the most of the available opportunities, “ said Wong. “Over time I’ve seen a transformation in each of them where they become focused academically and capable of engaging with adults in a mature and respectful manner; the integration of the life skills program is key,” she concluded.