Giving Kids the Advantage
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About Us

Tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe (left) along with Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation  former Board President Herb Shultz at Central Park in Schenectady, New York, speaking during a 15-LOVE event (June, 1990). Listen to Arthur Ashe’s 1990 speech during a 15-LOVE event in Albany, New York

HISTORY

The 15-LOVE Program has successfully completed 30 years of programming in the Capital Region. What was merely a dream (of reaching out in positive ways to inner-city youth) in June 1990, has indeed become a reality.

The late Arthur Ashe was instrumental in helping found the 15-LOVE Program. He himself got his start on public courts. His philosophy and ours is to “use tennis to teach the game of life.”

15-LOVE operates independently in NY’s Capital Region, and is a member of the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. 15-LOVE is focused upon the whole child, striving to make an impact that lasts a lifetime. It is a program of prevention.

We operate throughout the Capital Region, with special emphasis on the inner cities of Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Rensselaer. The program runs year-round, impacting more than 50,000 youth and their families throughout our history.

OUR MISSION

To reach out in a loving, caring way to youth of the Capital Region, using tennis as the medium, especially those in the inner cities

OPERATING THEMES

Within the overall mission, the following seven themes are emphasized:

    • Stress education
    • Promote good health (both emotional and physical)
    • Instill positive values
    • Foster multi-cultural relationships
    • Encourage good sportsmanship
    • Support family preservation
    • Give back in the community

 

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

​15-LOVE is built on a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity in all aspects of our organization. Whatever a person’s background, life experiences or current circumstances, they should feel valued and respected. We believe that it is the very diversity among us that helps to create a vibrant, inclusive and unique culture at 15-LOVE that is not only welcoming and attractive, but is the catalyst for our staff and board to collaborate with a sense of social responsibility and move the organization forward; and for giving the youth we work with the skills and environment to learn and grow into productive citizens who work hard, achieve their own goals and make a difference in our communities.

“15-LOVE stands WITH the causes of anti-racism and anti-discrimination of all kinds, and FOR social justice and economic justice in our communities.”

Celebrating 25 Years!

Enjoy 15-LOVE’s  promotional video, created by Ken Deyoe in honor of our 25th Anniversary. Here’s to 25 more years! 

OUR PROGRAMS

Our programming is structured around our 5 core pillars:
Tennis, Literacy, Healthy Living, College Prep and STEM.
Learn more about each one and find ways to get involved!

Tennis

Literacy

Healthy Living

College Prep

Contact us for more information!