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Feature Article in the USTA Pacific Northwest Tennis Times, Volume XVII, Number 1, Spring 2008-03-27 Portland After-School Tennis Recipient of $10,000 Aces for Kids Grant Portland After-School Tennis (PAST) was founding in 1996 with the goal of bringing low-cost tennis and education to underserved children at local schools and park sites. Thanks to the help of their dedicated volunteers and staff, the organization has continued to grow and positively affect the lives of Portland area youth over the last 12 years. 2007 was a banner year for PAST as working with Head Start, elementary and high school students, the organization served over 1,000 children in 18 schools and four parks. The PAST curriculum includes reading, nutrition , life skills, but the tennis court serves as classroom as well. “Our kids keep coming back to the program year after year and really do develop strong tennis skills and also are for the most part good students and well-behaved. There’s a lot of life skills taught just in the game of tennis itself,” says PAST Executive Director Danice Brown. In addition to their work on court PAST had some notable achievement off the court in 2007. In December, the organization received a $10,000 Aces for Kids national grant through the USTA Public Affairs Committee. With that grant PAST will look to expand their summer reading program, Serving Up Literacy in partnership with SUN Community Schools Summer Program in 2008. And just last month, the organization received a $15,000 USTA Community Funding national grant that will finance their new PAST Tennis Academy. The Academy will serve as the next developmental step for current PAST participants who show promise and the desire to rise to intermediate and advanced levels of play. Academy players will be held to high academic and sportsman ship standards and will mentor young program participants. PAST kids also had the extraordinary opportunity to experience the 2007 US versus Russia Davis Cup final in Portland. From participating in the Community tennis Carnival, Nike Davis Cup Clinics and getting to a ball with US Davis Cup team members to attending the matches at Memorial Coliseum. It was an unforgettable experience. Just ask PAST participant and Benson High School student Noelle Phan who wrote the “being able to experience such a historical moment in life if truly something I am grateful for and definitely something I won’t forget for the rest of my life. Ever since then, I have worked hard and will always keep working hard to be as great as I can be, just like each and every player in the Davis Cup. |
