SCTA news · 2010-06-23 · SCTA Southern California Tennis Associationnews FEBRUARY 2009 MARCH...
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SCTA news Southern California Tennis Association www.scta.usta.com MARCH 2010 resulting from the Olympics’ record-breaking profits. That year the organization began a relation- ship with the Southern California Tennis Association, funding the Na- tional Junior Tennis League pro- gram. As a result, 2010 is the silver anniversary of the LA84-National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) partnership. “The LA84 Foundation is cele- brating its 25th year of service to the youth of Southern California,” said Patrick Escobar, LA84 Founda- tion Vice President, Grants and Pro- grams. “We are fortunate to have had the Southern California Tennis Association as a partner since its inception. This unique rela- tionship has resulted in more than 150,000 boys and girls be- ing introduced to tennis.” Amy Gibbons, the first NJTL Director, said, “The in- troductory tennis program was one of the first funding recipients after the Olympics. Because of the continued sup- port, tennis has been intro- duced to thousands of young- sters at public parks in underprivileged areas. Several of them have gone on to achieve great things. Serena and Ve- nus Williams, who started playing in the program, are just two exam- ples. NJTL would simply not exist without the LA84 Foundation.” When Gibbons moved to Ari- zona and became the President and Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, the program was left in the able hands of her assistant, Ar- lene Barco. “The long- term relationship is a tes- tament to the leadership of the SCTA and the pas- sion demonstrated by the coaches and the volun- teers who deliver the pro- gramming,” Escobar said. “We are especially grateful to Arlene, who for many years, was the lead person for the SCTA. Her love for the sport and her desire to bring tennis to youngsters, who may not otherwise have been introduced to the game, was instrumental in the success of the program.” Barco, in truth, the Godmother of NJTL, with more than 20-years of involvement, (She referred to the LA84 Foundation as “An angel on our racquet.”), was forced to retire after suffering a stroke in August 2008. Melanie Bischoff, who was re- sponsible for Community Tennis, became the Director of NJTL after Barco’s departure. A former LA84 Foundation Grants Associate, Bischoff said, “There is nothing that meant more to Arlene than NJTL, and all that it involved. She worked hard to make it the best it could be. She absolutely loved it, and would do anything she could for the kids and the instructors.” As important as leaders can be, a program’s status in the local com- munity is commensurate with those administering it. Over the years, NJTL has had a stellar cast of knowl- edgeable and caring individuals who organize the summer and the Year-Round programs. Five years ago, the following were among those who earned spe- cial praise for having played vital roles at various NJTL sites for 20 years: Pete Brown-Los Angeles Trade Tech and Harvard Park; Don Bly-Ed Vincent Park; Rudy En- riquez-Roosevelt Park; Dee Henry- Biola University; Art Jones-Jesse Owens Park; Steve and Maurica Katz-Poinsettia Park; Sherrie Nixon-Silverado Park and Chaka Simba-Jim Gilliam and Rogers Park. “Almost every time I go to a local court, I see either a child, parent or grandparent who had a child in the NJTL program,” Hen- ry said. “I also see NJTL families almost everywhere I go. Each time I do, it brings back memo- ries. It also calls attention to the commitment made by so many youngsters to attend classes faith- fully, and of their desire to learn. MARK WINTERS Often lost among the highlights of 1984, some of which included Mary Lou Retton cartwheeling to fame and a place on a Wheaties box, Clara Peller exclaiming, “Where’s the beef?” in Wendy’s TV commercials, and Michael Jordan being named NBA Rookie of the Year, is the stunning financial suc- cess enjoyed by the Summer Olympic Games staged in the Southland. Though tennis returned to the Games as a Demon- stration Sport and the competition was held at the new Los Ange- les Tennis Center, the true impact of what took place wasn’t re- alized until a year lat- er. The Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles, now known as the LA84 Founda- tion, was established in 1985 to oversee the disbursement of funds, LA84 Foundation’s Twenty-Five Years With NJTL UCLA Southern California Tennis Association www.scta.usta.com Los Angeles Tennis Center - UCLA 420 Charles E. Young Drive West Los Angeles, CA 9 0 024 - 9115 (310) 208-3838 Henry Talbert - Executive Director Darren Potkey - Manager of Junior Competition Annette Buck - Director Adult & Senior Tennis Mark Winters - Executive Editor S TA F F Patrick Escobar, former SCTA President, Bill Rombeau, Arlene Barco and Melanie Bischoff The late Jack Kramer and Arlene Barco SCTA 2/11/10 11:45 AM Page 1
Transcript of SCTA news · 2010-06-23 · SCTA Southern California Tennis Associationnews FEBRUARY 2009 MARCH...
SCTAFEBRUARY 2009newsSouthern California Tennis Association
www.scta.usta.com
MARCH 2010
resulting from the Olympics’record-breaking profits. That yearthe organization began a relation-ship with the Southern CaliforniaTennis Association, funding the Na-tional Junior Tennis League pro-gram. As a result, 2010 is the silveranniversary of the LA84-NationalJunior Tennis and Learning (NJTL)partnership.
“The LA84 Foundation is cele-
brating its 25th year of service tothe youth of Southern California,”said Patrick Escobar, LA84 Founda-tion Vice President, Grants and Pro-grams. “We are fortunate to havehad the Southern California TennisAssociation as a partner sinceits inception. This unique rela-tionship has resulted in morethan 150,000 boys and girls be-ing introduced to tennis.”
Amy Gibbons, the firstNJTL Director, said, “The in-troductory tennis programwas one of the first fundingrecipients after the Olympics.Because of the continued sup-port, tennis has been intro-duced to thousands of young-sters at public parks inunderprivileged areas. Severalof them have gone on to
achieve great things. Serena and Ve-nus Williams, who started playingin the program, are just two exam-ples. NJTL would simply not existwithout the LA84 Foundation.”
When Gibbons moved to Ari-zona and became the President andExecutive Director of the Boys &Girls Clubs of MetropolitanPhoenix, the program was left inthe able hands of her assistant, Ar-
lene Barco. “The long-term relationship is a tes-tament to the leadershipof the SCTA and the pas-sion demonstrated by thecoaches and the volun-teers who deliver the pro-gramming,” Escobarsaid. “We are especiallygrateful to Arlene, whofor many years, was thelead person for the SCTA.Her love for the sport andher desire to bring tennisto youngsters, who may
not otherwise have been introducedto the game, was instrumental inthe success of the program.”
Barco, in truth, the Godmotherof NJTL, with more than 20-years ofinvolvement, (She referred to the
LA84 Foundation as “An angel onour racquet.”), was forced to retireafter suffering a stroke in August2008. Melanie Bischoff, who was re-sponsible for Community Tennis,became the Director of NJTL afterBarco’s departure. A former LA84Foundation Grants Associate,Bischoff said, “There is nothing thatmeant more to Arlene than NJTL,and all that it involved. She workedhard to make it the best it could be.She absolutely loved it, and woulddo anything she could for the kidsand the instructors.”
As important as leaders can be,a program’s status in the local com-munity is commensurate with thoseadministering it. Over the years,NJTL has had a stellar cast of knowl-edgeable and caring individualswho organize the summer and theYear-Round programs.
Five years ago, the followingwere among those who earned spe-cial praise for having played vitalroles at various NJTL sites for 20years: Pete Brown-Los AngelesTrade Tech and Harvard Park; DonBly-Ed Vincent Park; Rudy En-riquez-Roosevelt Park; Dee Henry-Biola University; Art Jones-Jesse
Owens Park; Steve and MauricaKatz-Poinsettia Park; SherrieNixon-Silverado Park and ChakaSimba-Jim Gilliam and RogersPark.
“Almost every time I go to alocal court, I see either a child,parent or grandparent who had achild in the NJTL program,” Hen-ry said. “I also see NJTL familiesalmost everywhere I go. Eachtime I do, it brings back memo-ries. It also calls attention to thecommitment made by so manyyoungsters to attend classes faith-
fully, and of their desire to learn.
MARK WINTERS
Often lost among the highlightsof 1984, some of which includedMary Lou Retton cartwheeling tofame and a place on a Wheatiesbox, Clara Peller exclaiming,“Where’s the beef?” in Wendy’s TVcommercials, and Michael Jordanbeing named NBA Rookie of theYear, is the stunning financial suc-cess enjoyed by theSummer OlympicGames staged in theSouthland. Thoughtennis returned to theGames as a Demon-stration Sport and thecompetition was heldat the new Los Ange-les Tennis Center, thetrue impact of whattook place wasn’t re-alized until a year lat-er.
The AmateurAthletic Foundation of Los Angeles,now known as the LA84 Founda-tion, was established in 1985 tooversee the disbursement of funds,
LA84 Foundation’s Twenty-Five Years With NJTL
SCTA
UCLA Southern California Tennis Associationwww.scta.usta.com
Los Angeles Tennis Center - UCLA420 Charles E. Young Drive WestLos Angeles, CA 90024-9115(310) 208-3838
Henry Talbert - Executive Director
Darren Potkey - Manager of Junior Competition
Annette Buck - Director Adult & Senior Tennis
Mark Winters - Executive Editor
S T A F F
Patrick Escobar, former SCTA President, Bill Rombeau, Arlene Barco andMelanie Bischoff
The late Jack Kramer and Arlene Barco
SCTA 2/11/10 11:45 AM Page 1
That makes the program special.” Henry added, “Character development is as important to me as the tennis skills. I tell the kids that since they call their own lines and keep their own score, every one has a chance to cheat or be cheated. It is what you do with that situation that is important.” Sam Noa offered, “I have been associated with the City of Carson’s NJTL program for over 10 years. I supervise four sites-three City and one Los Angeles
County Park. I believe NJTL is a ‘must’ program for un-derprivileged children. It has changed the lives of so many in the Carson community, along with those in neighbor-ing cities such as Compton, Long Beach and Torrance. “NJTL provides a clean and safe environment for under-privileged youth to grow up and become responsible people in the community. In addition, NJTL acts as a gang prevention activity because it gives children a chance to play tennis instead of being on the streets gangbanging.” Not every former NJTLer has gone on to dominate the game like Serena and Venus Williams. Creating profes-sional tennis players isn’t the purpose of the program. “I’m sure I have missed some people, but I have a list of 39
individuals who were in the Biola NJTL program and went on to play on high school teams. Eleven were on college teams and seven went on to coach. Two of the wheelchair players, who were in the able bodied NJTL program, won ten-nis chairs (to play in) be-cause they were deemed to be ‘up and coming’ players.” Because the program has provided so much, many youngsters
decide to return to where they learned to play and work as coaches. “It always gives me happiness when my former NJTL players come back to the park and share their sto-ries with me,” Noa said. “A few players went to college on tennis scholarships. Some have returned and become NJTL Instructors.” The late Jack Kramer had a special place in his heart for Barco and NJTL. Because of the relationship, Jack Kramer’s Kids Instruct Kids (KIK), designed to give former participants an opportunity to return and teach in the program where they learned to play, was initiated. “The first six of the kids in the KIKs program at Biola-Chris Brown, Eric Diamond, Holy McMahon, Ashley Nico-laides, Melissa Ta and Janelle
Williams-have been very suc-cessful,” Henry said. “All of them played high school ten-nis, and a number were also on their college teams. Each now has a good career, and I believe that being in KIK helped them develop decision making and other leadership skills. Since it began, our summer staff selection has come exclusively from the KIK program.” In an age, when five years is considered a “long relationship”, the NJTL-LA84 Foundation’s 25- year partnership is truly extraordinary. The great thing
about it, both parties feel that it is a win-win situation. “We look forward to a continuing relationship with the SCTA for years to come,” Escobar said. Thirty-two facilities in the section host Year-Round NJTL programs. During the
summer, the number of sites vaults to 150. “Many people call tennis an expensive sport, but NJTL has helped to make the game afford-able so most kids can learn to play,” Bischoff said. “It is $10 for a six-week program and finishes up with a fun Activities Day at the end of the session. If a child can-not afford the signup fee then a scholarship is given. All of which means that every youngster, in Southern California, has an opportunity to learn to play tennis.” For information concerning the
NJTL Year- Round session that begins in April or the summer offerings, contact Melanie Bischoff by email-ing [email protected]. com or calling (310) 208-3838 Ext. 239.
Jack Kramer, Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Rafer Johnson, Patrick Escobar and Arlene Barco with Andre Agassi and NJTL participants.
NJTL takes care of the kids.
Special Activity Days are always fun.
