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:

Been in existence for a minimum of three consecutive years
Be a registered USTA Adaptive Tennis program
- Click here for a list of registered programs
- Click here to register your program
Have not won the award in the three years prior to the year of application.

Waco Tennis Association

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

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.

PAST WINNERS

2024 – Waco Tennis Association (Waco, Texas)
2023 – Tennis for Fun (Brandon, Fla.)
2022 – Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis of Highland Park (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
2021 – Dream Court, Inc (Montgomery, Ala.)
2020 – Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019 – Lob-Stars (Hanover, Mass.)
2018 – Abilities Tennis Association of North Carolina (Raleigh, N.C.)
2017 – No award presented
2016 – Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. (National Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio)
2015 – San Diego District Tennis Association, Wounded Warrior Tennis Program (San Diego, Calif.)
2014 – ACEing Autism (National Headquarters: Los Angeles, Calif.)
2012-13 – Omaha Tennis Buddies (Omaha, Neb.)
2011 – Tennis for Fun, Nathan and Judy Moore (Brandon, Fla. & Belfast, Maine)
2010 – Touch of Tennis, Jim Holt (Gwynedd Valley, Pa.)
2009 – Special Populations (Atlanta, Ga.)
2008 – Handi-Racket Tennis (Wayland, Mass.)
2007 – Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund (Falls Church, Va.)
2006 – Professional Tennis Registry (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)
2005 – Diana Love, NJTL Special Populations Program (Woodside, N.Y.)
2004 – Janet Lefkowitz, Hero, Inc. (Scarsdale, N.Y.)
2003 – Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics National Headquarters (Washington, D.C.)

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