15-LOVE SELECTED AS ONE OF 23 CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS IN NATION BY USTA:

Designation Will Give 15-Year-Old Tennis/Life-Skills Organization Access to USTA/NJTL Staff, Resources to Improve Quality of Programming

ALBANY (January 5, 2005) — Furthering its mission of growing tennis in America and ensuring that programs that teach tennis and life skills to inner city children continue to flourish, the United States Tennis Association/National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) recently named 15-LOVE as one of 23 national “capacity building programs.”

As a result of this designation, 15-LOVE — a program of the Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation that uses tennis as a medium to reach its greater goals of promoting multicultural relationships, positive values, good health, fitness, education and family interaction — will receive access to technical assistance from USTA/NJTL staff for three years in all areas of on-court instruction and off-court programming.

“Obviously we're delighted to have been chosen,” said 15-LOVE Executive Director Amber Ablan, noting that 15-LOVE and the Long Island Tennis and Sports Foundation were the only two programs in New York state to be nominated for the inaugural program.

“USTA staff will now be available to assist us with our strategic plans for growth, grant writing projects and making sure the quality of our programs are sound,” she said. “Our participants will also have opportunities to take part in invitational tennis camps and leadership conferences.”

15-LOVE, which was founded in 1990 with the support of tennis legend and humanitarian, Arthur Ashe, provides free tennis clinics at 28 sites across the Capital Region. Following on-court instruction, children take part in 30-minute off-court workshops designed to teach self-respect, healthy living, discipline, good sportsmanship, and encourage excellence in education. The program experienced a 57 percent increase in attendance this past summer.

15-LOVE also offers various educational programs and activities, including an Excellence Program designed to help tennis players succeed at competitive play; the Book Power Club, a volunteer-run after school reading program for Arbor Hill Community School students; and, a college preparation and leadership program for high school students.

The USTA/NJTL was established in 1969 by Ashe, Charles Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder to use tennis as a means of developing the character of young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn and play the sport. Since 1985, it has been owned and supported by the USTA as one of its primary outreach programs to multicultural communities. With over 1000 Chapters and Programs and over 200,000 participants, the NJTL instills in youngsters the values of humanitarianism, leadership, and academic excellence, and gives youngsters the opportunity to fully develop their tennis skills for a lifetime of enjoyment from the sport.