We operate throughout the Capital Region,
with special emphasis on the inner cities of Albany, Troy,
and Schenectady. Over the years, the program has evolved
on a year round basis, impacting more than 10,000 youth
and their families.
15-Love participants receive free, high quality
tennis lessons and important life lessons conducted in off-court
activities including: an emphasis upon education, good health,
family preservation, multi-cultural relationships, and good
sportsmanship. In addition to the tennis focus of the program,
we have been involved with mentoring and tutoring. 15-Love
has the unique distinction of being the only program in
the Capital Region using tennis as a medium to reach out
to youth of all ages and backgrounds.
The CRYTF Board
of Directors is presently composed of 16 committed,
able, and ready community leaders. Its members represent
the ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity of the area.
The CRYTF Board meets six times a year while Board committees
meet monthly. The Board President, Herb Shultz, is involved
as a volunteer with the daily operations of the organization.
Our instructors receive extensive training
and act as positive role models with our youth participants.
The primary success of the program in fulfilling our mission
of positively impacting the lives of young people stems
from the relationship developed between our instructors
and participants. We have an outstanding group of instructors,
who do an extraordinary job providing encouragement and
building self-esteem. Many of our instructors are, themselves,
graduates of the program.
15-Love challenges skills
learned through:
Game Days/Jamborees - 15-Love
coaches conduct special activities on designated days for
competition and prizes. Participants from several sites
come together to compete and have fun. Program trophies
are awarded for each site and age group for best attendance,
best attitude, most improved player, and the outstanding
participant award.
Excellence - Several years ago, a seed grant received from the USTA
provided the funds to develop the 15-Love excellence program.
The goal of the Excellence Program is to enhance and focus
on developing tennis players to achieve success in competitive
play. CRYTF received the Star Search grant for the second
time from the USTA. This is an indication of the national
reputation of our program.
Junior Team Tennis - Participants
through sponsorship of board members and friends of 15-Love
attended the professional World Team Tennis matches held
at Schenectady's Central Park. More than 40 registered 15-Love
participants play in the USTA's Team Tennis junior leagues.
15-Love encourages multi-cultural
experiences through:
Field Trips - The 15-Love
Program has had the opportunity to introduce a variety of
experiences to its participants not limited to tennis. Tennis
events which are attended by youth include annual trips
to New York City and Connecticut for tournaments, Arthur
Ashe Kids Day at the US Open, and National Junior Tennis
League regional rallies. Trips have also included local
plays, movies, and museum trips.
Summer Camping - 15-Love
has established partnerships with organizations to provide
camping experiences for our youth. The Aloha Foundation
camp in northern Vermont provided camping experiences to
several of our participants each year. Participants have
also received scholarships to attend the USTA tennis camp
in California and Florida. These summer camping experiences
have had very positive effects on the participants involved.
15-Love advocates education
through:
15-Love
Book Power Club - 15-Love has developed an
after school reading program for Arbor Hill Community School
and Giffen Elementary School students, utilizing over a
dozen adult volunteers. The education committee of the board
is chaired by Mary Jean Krackeler who oversees the Book
Power Club. She and the volunteers strive to increase each
participants ability and confidence in reading and writing
skills, to make reading a pleasurable part of each child's
life, and to provide books for the children to own. This
program has enjoyed very good success.
Denise McCoy "little d" Memorial
Scholarship - In 2004, the Capital Region Youth Tennis
Foundation (CRYTF), which operates the 15-Love Program,
in cooperation with Kevin McCoy, Denise McCoy's husband,
established a scholarship fund in her memory. 15-Love and
Denise share a passion for education and the belief that
anyone with the desire to attend an institution of higher
education should be able to find resources available to
help make that happen.
15-Love
College Program - High
School students in the 15-Love program are eligible to participate
in the College Prep Program. Through group meetings and
one-on-one sessions, the students in the College Prep Program
work through a four-year curriculum that: helps
freshmen determine their talents and interests, aids sophomores
in exploring careers that match their talents, interests
and personel goals, assists juniors in locating colleges
that have the programs of study needed for their career
goals and at which they would flourish, and guides seniors
by providing structure and motivation during the college
application and financial aid processes.
Essay Contests - As a means
of integrating literacy, essay contests are conducted on
designated topics. Winners are chosen by age group and receive
prizes for their winning entries. |
