USTA Eastern, Backyard Sports Cares and Sound Shore Indoor Tennis Launch Program for Underserved Youth

STA Eastern and Backyard Sports Cares, a Westchester-based non-profit that provides quality team oriented sports programs for both underserved and special needs children, launched a six week evening community tennis program at Sound Shore Indoor Tennis in Port Chester last Friday, May 9th.

The program provides more than 60 underserved youth (ages 6-16) from White Plains and Port Chester the opportunity to learn tennis in a modern tennis facility. Additionally, they will receive quality skill instruction from tennis professionals and high school tennis enthusiasts trained as peer mentors from the area.

"The goal is to instill a love of the game, but also much more," said Sandy Hoffman, USTA Eastern's Tennis Service Representative from the Southern Region. "The full circle of community involvement with kids from different towns and backgrounds playing the game together truly resonates."

Danny Bernstein, Executive Director for Backyard Sports Cares, believes that it is a unique model for private and non-profit enterprises coming together to benefit the community. "It is a privilege to be working with Sound Shore Indoor Tennis. Angela Stevens has a heart larger than an oversized racquet," he said. "This project would never have gotten off the ground without her unconditional support."

Most of the participants are from longstanding Backyard Sports Cares community partners, the Carver Center in Port Chester and the White Plains Youth Bureau. The program beganlast Friday, May 9 and ends June 20, meeting every Friday night (excluding Memorial Day weekend) from 5:30-7:30pm.

The USTA Eastern Section, based in White Plains, New York, is a not-for-profit community service organization whose mission is to promote and develop the growth of tennis. The section encompasses all of New York State, Northern New Jersey and Greenwich, Connecticut. It is one of 17 geographic sections of the United States Tennis Association, the governing body of tennis in the United States, and supports more than 49,000 members. The section also establishes and maintains rules of fair play, high standards of sportsmanship and represents, in its jurisdiction, the programs and policies of the USTA. More information about the USTA Eastern section is available by visiting: www.eastern.usta.com.

Backyard Sports Cares (BYSC) is the non-profit (501c3) division of Backyard Sports, the leading provider of community team sports programs for kids of all ages in Westchester County. Established in 2005, Backyard Sports is committed to replacing today's "win at all costs" mentality of youth sports with an approach that promotes increased self-confidence and a lifetime love of sports while maximizing the athletic potential of each participant. Backyard Sports Cares was created to bring these ideals to children who have limited access to traditional youth sports programs, including children with special needs. Please visit  www.byardsportscares.org, or call 914-304-4052.

For more information, contact:

Abby Lerner, Senior Manager, Sales & Marketing, 914-697-2383; Lerner@eastern.usta.com
Linda White-Banta, Backyard Sports Cares, 914.584.8626; linda@byardsports.com
Danny Bernstein, Backyard Sports Cares, 914.304.4052; Danny@byardsports.com