The Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation (STPF) is the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern and is operated by a 15-member Board of Trustees. The foundation offers financial assistance to worthy individuals and organizations that work to fulfill the USTA mission to “Promote and develop the growth of tennis.”
This financial assistance includes:
- Grant assistance to junior players ranked in the top 100 in the South
- Matching grant assistance to state foundations to fund grants for players who are not ranked in the top 100 in the South
- College scholarships
- Community tennis grants
- NJTL Excellence
- Line grants for 36’ and 60’ courts
- Various committees consisting of trustees and advisors evaluate applications and grants financial support.
Click here for a list of the foundation’s officers, trustees, advisors and committee members.
STPF also selected inductees into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, along with managing the Hall of Fame located in the lobby of the USTA Southern office.
Grant Assistance to Junior Players
These grants are based on family income and the player’s need depending on the number and level of sectional and national tournaments played during the year. Players must apply to their state foundation before applying to STPF. Funding is provided after expense receipts have been submitted. The maximum grant is $3,000. Grants are provided throughout the year while budgeted funds are available. Click here for more information and our application.
Matching Grants to State Foundations
STPF grants either $1,000 or $2,000 which must be matched by the state foundation. The funds STPF grants are intended to be used to help players who are not ranked in the top 100 in the Section.
Community Tennis Grants
These new grants were established in 2014 and are intended to promote growth in communities of all sizes by initiating or expanding USTA programming at the grass roots level and educating the community on the health benefits tennis provides. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000, with 50 percent funding the second year. The application deadline is in mid-February each year. Click here for more information and an application.
NJTL Excellence Program
Funds are provided to winners of the Arthur Ashe Essay Contest to help pay the expenses of a two-day trip to the Winston-Salem Open, a U.S Open Series ATP men’s event played in late August in Winston-Salem, N C.
Line Grants
STPF and USTA Southern have partnered to provide funding up to 75 percent of the cost of lining courts for 36’ and 60’ play. Click here for an application.
Southern Tennis Hall of Fame
Induction ceremonies are traditionally conducted at the USTA Southern Annual Meeting in Atlanta every January. A Hall of Fame Selection Committee appointed by the STPF Board of Trustees selects the inductees each year. Inductees consist of players, volunteers, administrators and officials who have notably contributed to Southern tennis. Click here for a list of inductees. Plaques of the inductees are displayed in the Hall of Fame gallery in the lobby of the USTA Southern office, 5685 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, Ga. To nominate worthy candidates, a form may be accessed by clicking here. The nomination deadline is July 1 for the candidate to be considered for induction the following January.
Fund Raising
The Foundation holds a fund raising Gala during the USTA Southern Annual Meeting providing fun, food and fellowship for donors, Section and state volunteers and staff. The Foundation makes other fund raising efforts during the year.
Making a Donation
You are invited to become a partner with the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation. STPF is a 501 (c)3 organization. Individual donations are recognized in the following categories: $100, $250, $500, $1,000 and other. All donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible. If you would like to make a donation by check, please download our donation form.
Non-cash Donations
There are many ways to give: by check, with appreciated securities and by life-income arrangements such as charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts. If you would like to make a gift of stock, there are two ways:
Wire Transfer: Your bank or broker may transfer stock to the Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation account at Scottrade with a reference to the account #74400063, DTC #0705.
Physical Transfer: If you hold certificates, do not sign or fill them in. Instead, obtain and sign stock power and have your signature medallion guaranteed by a bank officer. Please have available the stock powers and letter of transmittal. Contact Winky Olson at the USTA Southern office (770-368-8200) for mailing instructions for the Scottrade account.
More Information
The Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation appreciates your support and we hope you will consider the Foundation in your charitable giving. General questions or requests for further information can be directed to Winky Olson at 770-368-8200.