This Christmas, your gifts can reflect your passion for tennis and your desire to see it flourish. Choosing presents that give back to the tennis ecosystem spreads holiday cheer and ensures the game continues to thrive for generations to come. The holiday season is all about the joy of giving, and there is no better way to do that than by supporting the game we love.
For those with the financial means, supporting tennis advocacy groups is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to the sport’s growth and development. These organizations focus on promoting tennis, nurturing new players, organizing events, and implementing programs encouraging participation at all levels. By identifying a group that aligns with your tennis interests and values, making a direct financial contribution becomes a straightforward and meaningful way to bolster the tennis ecosystem.
I donate annually to the National Women’s Tennis Organization, which advocates for and supports senior women’s tennis events and programs. The National Senior Men’s Tennis Association promotes the same mission for the men. The USTA Foundation supports the National Junior Tennis League, which provides a happy and stable environment for youth in the United States.
With a little research, it is fairly easy to find local tennis advocacy organizations in places where you can see the direct impact of your donation dollars. As I drill down into my own area, the Texas Tennis Foundation provides grants, scholarships, and educational opportunities for at-risk youth, adaptive, and wheelchair populations within my USTA Section. The Dallas Tennis Association transforms donations into tutoring, tennis instruction, life skills training, and tennis equipment for local area youth.
Making a financial contribution in someone else’s name or honor is an especially thoughtful gift for the tennis player in your life who is impossible to shop for. Donating to a tennis advocacy organization not only supports the growth and development of the sport but also serves as a personal gesture. It celebrates both the recipient’s love for tennis and the spirit of giving back.
Another way to help tennis this holiday season is by providing items to non-profits that don’t have a tennis-specific mission. Become the go-to person for every tennis-specific request made on “Angel Trees” during the holiday season. General donations of racquets and balls to community-based programs encourages tennis at the grassroots level. A couple of years ago, another player in my social circles shared that she sponsors tennis shoes for a kid in her local area whose family can not afford a sports-specific sneaker. You can make a difference through gifts at the micro-level.
This holiday season, consider supporting the tennis ecosystem with gifts that promote the sport and make a difference in the lives of others. Whether through financial contributions in honor of a loved one, donating gear to grassroots programs, or fulfilling tennis-related wishes on local “Angel Trees,” every effort helps grow the game and creates benefits for the broader community. Your holiday giving can reflect your love for tennis, spread joy, foster opportunity, and leave a lasting impact on the sport we all cherish.
