[ November 2009 ]
Hello Ms. Houston: Let me express my thanks and appreciation for taking Kiara* into the program. As you can tell, Kiara is very shy and takes a while to make friends (only biological child). She is also very aware of being the shortest in a group and did not want to participate in sports because of the competition, I believe. Since she has started with you, I noticed that there is a change in her attitude with regards to playing tennis and I thank you for that. Kiara has juvenile diabetes and has gain several pounds since she started using the insulin. I am pleased to report that she has lost some weight. Therefore, I am grateful to you and the program.
Dear Friend:
Kiara is taking a stand against shyness and juvenile diabetes at the same time. She’s enrolled in HEY (High Energy Young) Sister at Sportsmen's Tennis Club (STC), a free Saturday program for adolescent girls that offers fun, informative workshops coupled with beginner tennis instruction. For two and a half hours each week, 50 girls talk about self-image, money management, healthy relationships, college and career readiness – things a girl needs to know about herself and how she fits into the world around her. They also learn to play tennis, a sport that burns more calories than aerobics, builds self-esteem and critical thinking skills, and has helped thousands of Sportsmen’s Juniors stay in school, and even earn college scholarships – athletic and academic.
Since 1961, STC has played an important role in the lives of some of the most treasured, and yet often the most vulnerable members of Boston’s inner-city neighborhoods: our youth. The need for STC may never have been greater. Consider these sobering facts:
- Play Across Boston, a 2003 study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, found that there are as few as 2.1 recreational facilities per 1,000 children in Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury;
- 46% of Boston Public High School students were overweight in 2006.
- During the ‘06-‘07 school year, just 53% of Boston Elementary and Middle Schools reported offering physical education as part of their general curriculum;
- Dorchester has out-of-school time opportunities for only about 12% of its school-aged children.
Clearly, it’s a difficult time to be a child in Boston, but with your support, we can help. STC provides low-income youth and families with tennis, academic and social programs, in a safe and nurturing environment, seven days a week. Under our new Match Point Community Partnership, we even take our successful programs out into the community. We teach tennis lessons for Kindergarten students at the Young Achievers School everyday. We host students from the Middle School Academy, an alternate school for students whose behavioral challenges have prevented them from succeeding in other schools. These are just two of the eight programs we’ve rolled out under Match Point; others are ready to begin when funding is secured.
Once introduced to the Club, students can enroll in programs like HEY Sister, DEUCE (Don’t Ever Underestimate Consistent Effort), our new companion program for boys, and daily academic tutoring. Match Point already reaches over 400 children each week.
Your support allowed us to reduce the cost of summer camp this year by 12.5%, during a difficult economy for families and non-profits alike. Attendance increased 110% over 2008. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we depend upon individual donations to offset our high utility costs and to directly support our young members:
- A $150 gift provides 8 weeks of beginner after school tennis;
- Just $725 pays for a full school year of after-school or Saturday USA Tennis;
- $1,450 a year provides 12 hours of K-5 academics and 3 hours of tennis weekly
- $2,000 would add Holiday, Winter and Spring Vacation week camps.
A gift in any amount tells Kiara that you know how it feels to be a shy kid trying to find her way. Thank you for helping Sportsmen's Tennis Club continue to be an extended family for hundreds of children every year. Please click here to make your contribution on-line, or mail your check or credit card information to: Sportsmen’s Tennis Club, 950 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124.
Sincerely,
Toni Wiley
Executive Director
*We’ve changed Kiara’s name out of respect for her privacy.
