Grassroots giving:
USPTA pros share game with community youth
December 2009 -- The 2009 Tennis Across Montgomery, led by USPTA Professional John McWilliams, raised a record amount of money for a worthy charity and introduced some lucky youth to the game.
The annual event, a part of USPTA's Tennis Across AmericaTM, was held Oct. 3 at Huntingdon College, where McWilliams is tennis director.
Tennis Across Montgomery (Ala.) featured a "serve-a-thon" that raised more than $37,000 to benefit the Family Sunshine Center in Montgomery. The center works to end family violence and promote healing through crisis intervention, advocacy and community education. The slogan for the day was "Serving an 'ace' against child abuse and domestic violence."
Participants in the fast-serve contest collected pledges toward each mile per hour they served. Teams in the Montgomery USTA leagues were encouraged to participate. The person who raised the most pledge money ($4,500) won a three-day beach trip to any ResortQuest condominium.
McWilliams also held a free clinic for 65 youth who have not had the opportunity to experience tennis. "Coach Mac" contacted area Boys and Girls Clubs, which brought their members. Activities included basic stroke production, drills and fun rally games.
The children were treated to hot dogs and a commemorative T-shirt. Also, McWilliams talked about subjects such as drugs, sportsmanship and going to school.
USPTA Professionals assisting with the clinic were Glenn Campbell, Arnold Bradshaw and son Ben Bradshaw.
Clinic participants used racquets McWilliams received from the USPTA World Headquarters. Afterward, he donated racquets to several nonprofit programs that teach tennis to children, including the Nehemiah Center in Montgomery.
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Arnold and Ben Bradshaw, who are father and son, conduct a weekly tennis clinic for the children in the afterschool program at the Nehemiah Center in Montgomery, Ala.
These P-1 members of the USPTA volunteer their time to teach at the Nehemiah Center, sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Montgomery. They hope that a few of the students can enter a novice tournament in December, Ben Bradshaw said.
Arnold and Ben Bradshaw also helped with the recent Tennis Across Montgomery event that John McWilliams, USPTA, has conducted for the past 14 years. The two-fold event featured a fast-serve contest that raised $37,000 for a local center that works to end family violence, as well as a free tennis clinic for at-risk children.
The youngsters in the clinic used HEAD racquets McWilliams received from the USPTA World Headquarters. Afterward, he donated 12 racquets to the Bradshaws' program at the Nehemiah Center.
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