USTA awards more than $100,000 in grants to deserving wheelchair tennis programs nationwide

"These organizations are doing a tremendous job opening their doors to those in the wheelchair community to allow individuals the opportunity to try the sport of a lifetime," Harnett says.

BlazeSports, headquartered in Norcross, Ga., is one such example.

For nearly three decades, the nonprofit organization is carrying on the spirit of the Atlanta Games, the last Paralympics to be held on U.S. soil to date, through its programming for youth and adults. But one of its signature programs is its veterans program, which caters to those who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder or physical disabilities stemming from their service in the armed forces. More than 80% of the participants in this program are African American, and BlazeSports says it's "committed to providing a comprehensive and inclusive platform that caters to the unique needs of our diverse community, ensuring equitable opportunities for all participants to thrive in the transformative world of adaptive tennis."

Grant amounts awarded to programs including BlazeSports were based on existing budget, as well as projected programming needs. Recipients can use the award to support coaching, court time, equipment, recruitment, and events, including tournaments and camps. 

If programs like Challenge Alaska in Anchorage and the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md., has its way, their awards will support all that and more in 2024. While the Alaska-based program is exploring a new frontier in the state, anticipating two dozen participants in its fledgling program this year, JTCC's jam-packed offerings in wheelchair tennis include a free, weekly clinic in partnership with MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital; an innovative team-based format for play modeled on the concept seen in collegiate and junior tennis; plus tournament play and camps.

More than 100 wheelchair users participated in JTCC programming last year, says Gabrielle Hesse, the organization's head of wheelchair and adaptive tennis, and it hopes to use its grant funding to grow participation by 10% over the next 12 months, as well as host community pop-up events introduce more people with disabilities to tennis.