New Balance Foundation Commits $2 Million to Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center
November 16, 2025
The New Balance Foundation announced a $2 million multi-year investment in Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center, the nation’s first nonprofit indoor tennis club built by and for the African-American community. The announcement came during the 2025 Sportsmen’s Tennis Ball at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, where over 750 supporters honored the Foundation with the Sportsmen’s Community Builder Award and celebrated a night of impact, achievement, and community.
Founded in 1961, Sportsmen’s uses tennis as a platform for education, health, and personal growth. Each year, the center engages more than 5,000 young people and adults through competitive and recreational tennis, after-school enrichment, leadership development, and community wellness programs. The New Balance Foundation also provides support for The Learning Center at Sportsmen’s, an academic support program for elementary school students.
“New Balance Foundation is dedicated to building stronger communities and brighter futures through sport,” said Molly Santry, Director of Global Philanthropy. “Sportsmen’s is the heartbeat of Boston—using tennis to empower thousands of young people with skills that extend far beyond the court. We are honored to support and accelerate this transformative work, standing alongside Sportsmen’s to drive lasting change.”
The $2 million commitment will help advance Sportsmen’s expansion toward a more accessible, inclusive, and connected campus for the community. This funding will support key improvements, including:
- A welcoming front entrance that improves accessibility, visibility, and safety along the Blue Hill Avenue corridor.
- A new Connector Building with a community fitness center, social gathering spaces, and locker rooms.
- The Equity Wing, home to the historic Breaking the Barriers exhibit celebrating the legacy of Black tennis in America, and Billie Jean King’s fight for equal pay for women.
- Enhanced outdoor spaces with lighted courts, walking paths, and play areas for summer camp and youth programs.
“Sportsmen’s is more than just tennis,” said Toni Wiley, CEO of Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center. “It’s about opening doors, helping kids learn, grow, and believe in themselves both on and off the court. That is exactly what tonight’s Community Builder honoree, the New Balance Foundation, is all about too. Their investment will expand opportunities for young people to thrive and continue building a stronger, healthier community.”