Adaptive Tennis National Community Service Award

PRESENTED AT

USTA Semiannual Meeting & Conference

 

HISTORY

The USTA Adaptive Tennis National Community Service Award was established in 2003 to recognize either an individual or a program that has demonstrated excellence, dedication, and service related to tennis for an adaptive community. 

 

ELIGIBILITY

Any program or organization that has demonstrated continued excellence, dedication, and tennis-related service for those with physical and/or intellectual, social and emotional disabilities. Programs must:

Anyone is eligible to nominate an Adaptive Tennis program organization for this award. Self-nominations are acceptable. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted online using the nomination form. Local affiliates of national organizations must coordinate their nomination with their national office.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

  • Provide complete information requested in the nomination form. At least one letter of support is required.
  • Additional supporting documentation demonstrating the nominee’s contributions pertaining to the award and additional community letters of support are encouraged (limit of 3). Criteria for selection include:
    • Number of weeks/year and average on-court hours/week
    • Program growth (number of athletes and geographical locations)
    • Number of athletes
    • Years in existence
    • Impact on the athletes and community
    • Reasons for nomination
    • Supporting letters
  • The selection committee is comprised of a panel of USTA Adaptive Tennis Committee members and national staff who work with adaptive tennis.

 

TIMETABLE 

Nominations traditionally open in May each year with a mid-June deadline for submitting.

 

USTA CONTACT

Andrea Snead

Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

10000 USTA Blvd

Orlando, FL 32827

 

HISTORY

Established in 2003, the award recognizes a program or program leader that has demonstrated continued excellence, dedicated and service in tennis for special populations. 

 

YEAR      RECIPIENT

2003       Eunice Kennedy Shriver (Special Olympics National Headquarters - Washington, D.C.)
2004       Janet Lefkowitz (Hero, Inc. - Scarsdale, N.Y.)
2005       Diana Love (NJTL Special Populations Program - Woodside, N.Y.)
2006 Professional Tennis Registry (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)
2007 Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund (Falls Church, Va.)
2008 Handi-Racket Tennis (Wayland, Mass.)
2009 Special Populations (Atlanta, Ga.)
2010 Touch of Tennis, Jim Holt (Gwynedd Valley, Pa.)
2011 Tennis for Fun, Nathan and Judy Moore (Brandon, Fla. & Belfast, Maine)
2012-13 Omaha Tennis Buddies (Omaha, Neb.)
2014 ACEing Autism (National Headquarters: Los Angeles, Calif.)
2015 San Diego District Tennis Association, Wounded Warrior Tennis Program (San Diego, Calif.) 
2016 Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. (National Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio)
2017 No award presented
2018 Abilities Tennis Association of North Carolina (Raleigh, N.C.)
2019 Lob-Stars (Hanover, Mass.)
2020      Not awarded due to COVID-19
2021 Dream Court, Inc (Full video) (Montgomery, Ala.)
2022 Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis of Highland Park (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
2023 Tennis for Fun (Brandon, Fla.)

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