Focus Area: Youth Development

Grant Amount: $10,000

Located in St. Paul. Opened in 2002, dedicated to making tennis more accessible to everyone in the community, especially youth from under-resourced communities. The center provides affordable courts, junior and adult tennis programs, and youth outreach programs. TennisWorks is their primary outreach program, pairing youth in grades 3-8 with tennis instruction, life-skills education, and academic support. Staff receive trauma-informed coaching and have access to mental health resources for youth who have experienced trauma. It has been recognized by the Aspen Institute for the work it is doing to break down barriers in sports.

Grant supports a continuation of TennisWorks’ expansion to a new school, the Journey School. The funds will help support a continuation of the after-school programs, increase the number of youth served, and partially pay for a van to transport students. TennisWorks is further developing its summer tennis camps, adding academic supports and enrichment activities, continuing its SEL curriculum, and continuing the expanded family supports that were begun during the pandemic.