USTA Foundation Launches Community Impact Hubs in 10 Cities

National – August 25, 2025

The USTA Foundation unveiled its new Community Impact Hub initiative on Monday, aiming to bring tennis to under-resourced communities across the country. This program will launch in 10 selected cities, creating opportunities for young people and families to engage with the sport.

The initiative will partner with ten community organizations from the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. It seeks to embed tennis as a catalyst for holistic community change by expanding existing tennis and education programs.

Over the next few years, this $6 million effort will offer no-cost access to tennis, coach training, and refurbish at least 160 tennis courts. It is projected to benefit over 630,000 youth and families, implement programs in more than 570 schools, and recruit over 2,000 new coaches nationwide by the end of 2027.

“Community Impact Hubs will provide unprecedented access to tennis and all of its benefits to youth and families in under-resourced communities,” said USTA Foundation CEO Ginny Ehrlich. “This initiative reflects our deep commitment to harnessing the transformative power of tennis to open gateways of opportunity.”

This project also aligns with the USTA’s goal of increasing tennis participation to 35 million Americans by 2035.

Frances Tiafoe, an advocate for the initiative, highlights its potential to identify future tennis stars like himself. He emphasized the importance of access, recalling his journey from a storage room at a tennis center to success on the professional circuit.

The Community Impact Hubs were chosen from over 270 organizations, demonstrating the USTA Foundation’s commitment to equitable tennis opportunities since the NJTL’s founding in 1969 by tennis legends Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder.

In addition to expanding tennis access, these hubs will serve as places of community connection and support. “This initiative is more than introducing people to tennis; it embeds the sport into the community fabric,” said Brian Vahaly, USTA Board President.

With robust educational, mentorship, and coaching programs, the initiative ensures that youth in the selected communities have access to essential life skills in tandem with sporting opportunities.

“It means everything to have this support, especially amid today’s political climate,” said Mackenzi Stewart, a tennis program director in Atlanta. She emphasized the importance of building connections within local communities to foster growth and development.

The hub locations represent a dedicated effort to uplift and empower youth through sports, reinforcing the vision laid out by the USTA Foundation.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support I received,” Tiafoe said. “It means a lot to pay it forward and ensure the next generation has the same opportunities I did.”