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In 2011 United States Professional Tennis Association teaching professionals raised almost $2.5 million for charity through the association’s Lessons for Life™ program.

Lessons for Life became USPTA’s national charitable program in 1999 and since then the USPTA and its members have raised more than $47 million in an effort to support various charities. Through this program, the USPTA encourages its members to use tennis as a vehicle to help others through fundraisers and other activities in their communities. The fundraisers take many forms including tournaments, pro-ams, auctions, black-tie dinners and clinics. Many of the fundraisers take place at country clubs and commercial clubs, where the majority of USPTA Professionals direct tennis operations and programming.

In 2009 an additional element was added to the program when the USPTA and Rally for the Cure joined forces to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer through tennis and Lessons for Life under the broader Tennis – for the health of it! initiative. Rally for the Cure has the tools and materials for USPTA tennis-teaching professionals interested in running a Lessons for Life charity tennis event in support of Rally for the Cure. This is just one more way USPTA teaching professionals can give to important causes through tennis and Lessons for Life.

This year USPTA will also be working with ThanksUSA as part of Tennis Thanks the Troops. This is a new component of the program, and one that strives to mobilize USPTA members to raise funds to help families of military personnel, specifically by providing scholarships. For more information visit www.thanksusa.org.

While Lessons for Life is officially celebrated in October, events may be hosted any time during the year. People who are interested in participating in a Lessons for Life event should contact a USPTA Professional in their area. USPTA’s Find-A-Pro service is available at www.usptafindapro.com or by calling 800-USPTA-4U for help locating a USPTA Professional.