Collins named PTR Volunteer of the Year
February 22, 2014
Hilton Head Island, SC — Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) presented its annual awards this week during the 2014 PTR International Tennis Symposium. The event, which includes 40-plus on court and classroom presentations for tennis teachers and coaches, a trade show and tournament, was held February 20-23 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Maggie Collins, of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina, has been named PTR Volunteer of the Year. In the past few years, Collins’ smiling face has been a familiar sight at every PTR event. She volunteers at the PTR Symposium, Spring TennisFest and PTR Wheelchair Championships. Without hesitation, Collins volunteers her services – as well as those of her husband Jim McNeil.
Shortly after the Connecticut couple moved to Hilton Head Island, Collins got the tennis bug. She started on her home turf, rallying members of her Home Owners’ Association to better utilize their tennis courts. She helped raise funds to start Learn to Play clinics conducted by PTR Professionals, which attracted many of the over 50 crowd. With everything in place at home, Collins set her sights beyond her HOA.
She became the volunteer coach for a USTA 55+ team that went to States. She coaches the boys and girls Learn to Play starter program at Bluffton High School, and serves a volunteer assistant for the Bluffton School’s tennis teams. She assists at the annual Bluffton Open Tournament, which raises money for Youth Tennis and Junior Team Tennis.
It was through her love of tennis, that Collins found and joined PTR, and we are so lucky she did. Collins runs one of the sites for our Wheelchair Tennis Championships, and works for us during the PTR Spring TennisFest. She coordinates a slew of other volunteers to make sure PTR events run smoothly. She and her friends even cook lunches for tournament players! She can also be spotted at our International Tennis Symposium doing whatever needs to be done. It’s not just that Collins volunteers, it is the positive attitude and joie de vivre she brings when she does. Regardless of the tasks at hand, Collins shines, finding the fun and joy in everything.
PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 14,600 members in 121 countries. It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.
