USTA's "Breaking Barriers" event to be hosted by Harris/Morales

FLUSHING, N.Y., September 8, 2009 – The USTA announced today that CNN’s Tony Harris and Natalie Morales of “The Today Show” will host a special USTA “Breaking the Barriers” reception honoring the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network on the 40^th anniversary of its founding by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder.  The event is the first in what will become an annual celebration to honor those who are committed to positively impacting the world.  The reception in honor of the co-founders will be held at the Indoor Training Center at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Thursday, September 10; Ambassador Andrew Young will be the event’s featured speaker, and acclaimed trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis will perform with a Celtic jazz trio.

“The National Junior Tennis and Learning network is a prime example of what the USTA is trying to accomplish in communities all over the country,” said Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA.  “As much as any other USTA entity, NJTL fulfills our mission of growing the game of tennis among America’s youth by providing opportunities for all children, regardless of background, the chance to learn a sport that can last a lifetime.”

In addition to the 40^th anniversary reception, NJTL will unveil a new public service announcement featuring Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, widow of Arthur Ashe, as well as an exclusive t-shirt designed by music icon Jay-Z.  All t-shirt proceeds will benefit the USTA Serves Foundation and the Arthur Ashe Endowment for the Defeat of AIDS.   

“The National Junior Tennis and Learning network is a very important resource for the USTA, and we are proud that in its 40^th year the program is as widespread as ever,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA.  “These programs help preserve the principles of the NJTL’s co-founders, and this reception will call further attention to our goal of helping children maximize their potential through the combination of academics and tennis.”

“This fantastic evening will bring together community leaders from across the country who embody the ideals of the National Junior Tennis and Learning network – giving back and providing underserved children the chance for new opportunities and experiences,” said Kevin Clayton, Chief Diversity Officer, USTA.  “The reception is a wonderful way to shed light on a key USTA initiative during the premier tennis event in the United States.”

In June, the USTA unveiled a new name and logo for the NJTL, officially re-branding it as the National Junior Tennis and Learning network. The re-brand was designed to heighten awareness of NJTL initiatives while broadening the public’s understanding of the mission to instill in young children the values exemplified by Arthur Ashe – humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence.

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with 730,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 94 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and through tennis, helps underserved youth and people with disabilities to improve academics, build character and strive for excellence. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

About NJTL

The NJTL is a nation-wide network of community tennis organizations seeking to develop the character of young people through tennis and education.  Founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder, this growing network of tennis providers share similar values, ideals, and goals by:

·         reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play tennis

·         instilling in youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence

·       giving all kids (regardless of income, race, gender) the opportunity to fully develop their tennis skills so they can derive a life time of enjoyment from the sport

NJTLs are unique because they offer a variety of on-court programming and also educational and life-skill components designed to enhance a player’s overall development. These educational components are diverse in nature, but can vary from things like mentoring and drug and alcohol counseling, to things like computer skills training, health and nutrition, and college preparation.