RSTTA Receives Sectional NJTL of the Year Award
November 19, 2009
Wilmington, DE — The National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) is a nation-wide network of community-based organizations, founded by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheirdan Snyder with a purpose to develop the character of young people through tennis and education. The NJTL delivers tennis and education in 550 chapters to over 220,000 youth participants throughout the United States.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) continues its tradition of honoring outstanding program work in tennis and youth development by presenting the annual NJTL of the Year Award to programs and chapters that demonstrate extraordinary community leadership and excellence in youth tennis and education programming.
RSTTA has been named the USTA Middle States Section NJTL of the Year Award recipient. The Middle States Section is comprised of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and part of West Virginia.
“This is a great honor. To be recognized for two consecutive years is truly special,” states RSTTA Chairman, Jane Brown Grimes.
Jeff Harrison, USTA Middle States President, stated “he was thrilled that the USTA has recognized RSTTA as an outstanding NJTL section chapter. As the former President of the Delaware District where Rodney Street is located, I know firsthand the amazing work they do and the difference they make in these children’s lives.”
RSTTA (rodneystreettennis.org) provides year round, after-school and out-of-school programs that are designed to combat pressing community concerns: truancy; poor academic achievement contributing to an alarmingly low graduation rate; gang activity; drug and alcohol dependency; and unhealthy lifestyles. RSTTA provides positive intervention through a curriculum that supports both the personal development of the “whole” child as well as the communal development of the neighborhoods in which these children live and play. As an adjunct to its youth enrichment programs, RSTTA provides adult family members of its participants with the opportunity to receive training and tutoring for GED certification and/or college readiness. RSTTA’s principal sponsor is the Comcast Family of Companies. Additional support comes from foundations, corporate, public and private resources.