Category: News

NYJTL Raises Record-Breaking $1.4M in First Nighttime Gala

Posted on by Sadia Saba

New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) celebrated 50 years of service last night at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, where individuals from across the country came together to reflect on the legacy and future of the organization’s commitment to underserved NYC youth in all five boroughs.  

Since its founding in 1971, NYJTL has provided grassroots services to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. In its first nighttime gala, NYJTL raised a record-breaking $1.4 million in funds that will help scale and accelerate its impact.  

The star-studded night honored James Blake and Tory Kiam, and featured many distinguished guests to commemorate NYJTL’s mission such as Mary Carillo, Blair Henley, Pat Kiernan, Michelle Yu, Dennis Kenney, Frederique van der Wal, Caitlin Thompson, and more. The night also featured special appearances from John McEnroe and Wanda Sykes, and concluded with a musical performance from OneUp Duo, a pop group featured on NBC’s The Voice, that had the crowd dancing well into the night. 

“The ever-changing circumstances of the pandemic remind us of the urgency of our work,” said NYJTL President & CEO Udai Tambar. “The funds raised last night allow us to provide vital support to meet the evolving needs of our children and their families.”  

The funds raised will also help launch the Scholar Athlete Program. This inaugural flagship program will offer high quality, personalized tennis and education instruction to ensure that every student graduates high school, enrolls in college, and achieves their college degree. Core components include tennis and athletic development including 1:1 coaching and fitness training, life skills and character development, academic support through 1:1 tutoring, standardized test preparation, college essay feedback, financial aid counseling, and guidance to students and families throughout the middle school, high school, and college admission processes. 

Leading into the gala, NYJTL raised $3.4 million in gifts towards the Scholar Athlete Program, including a foundational $1 million gift from the Pershing Square Foundation, and a $1 million endowment from Stuart Weitzman.  This tremendous effort totals $4.8 million during its 50th anniversary campaign and will allow NYJTL to begin its new ambitious programmatic expansion. 

The Scholar Athlete Program is set to have a halo effect on all of NYJTL’s tennis and education program offerings. The program targets youth from low-income families.  

NYJTL continues to seek donations to support future Scholar Athletes and their long-term success. To learn more about how you can contribute to the work that transforms the lives of underserved NYC youth, please contact Joe Ceriello, Chief Marketing & Development Officer at jceriello@nyjtl.org. 

NYJTL’s Ahsha Rolle Coaches Camp at Billie Jean King Cup

Posted on by Sadia Saba

From April 12-17, 2022, New York Junior Tennis & Learning’s (NYJTL) Director of Tennis Ahsha Rolle was selected to assist USTA National Coach Lori Riffice in coaching the Girls 14’s and 16’s USA team in a training camp that ran in conjunction with the Billie Jean King Cup in Asheville, North Carolina. The junior team had a productive week of training and were able to cheer on Team USA to a 3-2 victory. Ukraine’s national team was a skilled opponent and brought the competition down to a deciding doubles match.  

“Being able to meet Billie Jean King felt very special to me,” says Rolle. For King, matters of tennis were always much greater than the player. Much of her legacy is characterized by breaking down gender barriers both on and off the court, and the tournament, renamed in her honor in 2020, echoed these sentiments. “I was intrigued to learn that at the age of 11, Billie Jean King’s goal was to be ranked No. 1 in the world because she wanted to positively impact women’s prize money,” Rolle recalls.  

In addition to gaining invaluable knowledge from King, the young girls were able to make the most out of the week-long training camp. The girls team endured cold early morning workouts, full days of multiple tennis and fitness sessions, and team building exercises. Rolle, a former touring pro who also previously was a member of the USA Billie Jean King Cup team, had a hands-on role in preparing the young girls for their next tournament. Through the help of Rolle’s coaching, the USA junior girls team learned professionalism, how to overcome adversity in tough environments, and were able to prepare for the upcoming Regional Qualifying for Junior World Championships next month in Mexico. “Working with these girls was a full circle moment for me having competed in the Billie Jean King Cup previously,” said Rolle. “It was memorable being able to use my experiences and influence our youth in a positive way.” 

Tournaments like this display the ways in which tennis has the power to bring together the community, even on the international level. Though Team USA was competing against Team Ukraine and eventually won the victory, the tournament was filled with moments of solidarity for Ukraine and its people in light of the ongoing war and violence facing the country. There were many symbolic gestures throughout the competition as Team USA showed their support and celebrated the strength and resiliency of the visiting Ukrainian team. “The solidarity for Ukraine was very powerful,” said Rolle. 

NYJTL is proud to have had our very own talented change maker play an important role in training the girls on the junior national team ahead of their international competition next month. She wishes them the best of luck in next month’s tournament!  

USTA Eastern Becomes NYJTL Bronx Open Sponsor

Posted on by Sadia Saba

New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) is proud to announce that USTA Eastern will be a sponsor for the NYJTL Bronx Open this year. The NYJTL Bronx Open will now become only the second professional tennis tournament within the calendar year in the Eastern Section alongside the US Open.    

The professional women’s $60,000 USTA Challenger tournament will take place from August 14-21, 2022 at NYJTL’s world-class Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the south Bronx, and will admit spectators at no charge.  The tournament expects to draw a field with the same players competing in the US Open Qualifying tournament just two short days later. 

“USTA Eastern is thrilled to support the NYJTL Bronx Open as an official sponsor,” said USTA Eastern Executive Director & CEO Jenny Schnitzer. “We are committed to bringing professional tennis to our section and share a common goal with NYJTL to bring as many people into the game as possible, especially young people.” 

“We are excited to welcome USTA Eastern to the team for this year’s NYJTL Bronx Open,” said NYJTL President & CEO Udai Tambar. “We know that together we can make the game more accessible to diverse communities and provide the Bronx with the high-quality tennis it deserves.” 

The NYJTL Bronx Open will feature a main draw with 32 singles players plus a 16-team doubles’ event and a 32-player qualifying event. The flagship home of NYJTL, the Cary Leeds Center has 20 tennis courts and two additional stadium courts with permanent seating for more than 1,000 spectators, creating an unmatched intimate tennis viewing experience. The Cary Leeds Center, a growing hub in the neighborhood, partners with local schools, police precincts, and local groups to increase access to tennis and strengthen ties among the community. 

NYJTL continues to seek community partners and sponsors to elevate the tournament, engage the NYC community, and become a major tennis destination leading up to the US Open. 

To learn more about how you can become a part of the event, please contact Tournament Director, Joe Ceriello at jceriello@nyjtl.org 

About NYJTL:

The mission of New York Junior Tennis & Learning is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court.  Since 1971, NYJTL has changed lives through tennis, education, healthy living, and character development programs.  Today, it is the largest youth tennis and education non-profit in the nation, reaching more than 85,000 K-12 New York City youth.

NYJTL provides after school programming in approximately 30 schools and community tennis programming at approximately 40 sites throughout New York City in the summer months and at additional sites that operate during the school year.  In addition, NYJTL designed, funded (with NYC), built and operates the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, at which it provides free and commercial tennis programming year-round as well as life skills, character development and healthy living lessons.  All NYJTL community tennis and after school programs are offered at no cost to its participants.

NYJTL is looking forward to celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022!

Contact: Joe Ceriello
Chief Marketing & Development Officer
jceriello@nyjtl.org
(917) 693-6672

The NYJTL Mayor Dinkins Cup Launches in 2022

Posted on by Sadia Saba

The Mayor Dinkins Cup is the largest free junior interscholastic tennis competition in the nation, with players from all over New York City representing public, parochial, and private schools. Formerly the Mayor’s Cup, New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) renamed the tournament the Mayor Dinkins Cup to honor David N. Dinkins, NYC’s first Black Mayor and NYJTL Board Member for 35 years. This year’s Mayor Dinkins Cup will be held at The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning from May 26 to June 5.

“Renaming the NYJTL Mayor’s Cup in honor of Mayor David N. Dinkins is extra special for our organization as the late Mayor was actively involved in our grassroots efforts, whether it be this championship or at our annual National Essay Contest, throughout his long-standing tenure on our board,” says Udai Tambar, NYJTL CEO & President. “His devotion to the service of NYC children and tennis was evident to all that encountered him and I am happy that his life-long passions will continue to be championed through our work.  Now every NYC youth will have the opportunity to play in this tournament bearing his name.”

History of Mayor Dinkins Cup

Mayor Dinkins had a longstanding connection with tennis, and a cornerstone of his identity as a public servant was his dedication to diversifying the sport. As an NYJTL Board Member, he championed its work to develop the character of youth through tennis and education free of charge to New York City’s most vulnerable populations. He was a close friend of NYJTL founder Arthur Ashe, and in 1990 wrote in The New York Times:“These programs teach our young people more than just tennis. They reinforce values such as discipline, courteousness, good sportsmanship, team spirit and responsibility. And because many of these programs are held within our schools, they teach our children the importance of a good education and encourage them to stay in school.”  In his tenure as the first African-American mayor of the city, he negotiated the deal to create Arthur Ashe Stadium and helped ensure that NYC remained the host of the US Open, cementing the legacy of Ashe and ensuring that this global event stayed in the city. 

Working closely with the Public School Athletic League (PSAL), Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), local private school coaches, and tennis supporters, NYJTL formed a tournament committee which created the unique format of team and individual events in both singles and doubles competitions. With the support of so many, the formerly named NYJTL Mayor’s Cup became a reality in 1988 and has continued to engage the community ever since.

The NYJTL Mayor Dinkins Cup has offered both individual and team competitions for more than 800 elementary, middle, and high school students. Similar to the NCAA Championships, students of all levels have the opportunity to represent their school as well as to compete in individual events.

NYJTL Scholarships

NYJTL’s vision is to enable youth to grow with the game and it is proud to recognize outstanding youth who excel in tennis, academics, and character. Through the newly established Louis Marx, Jr. Educational Scholarship, Victor Kiam “Going For It” Scholarship, and AYS Leadership & Innovation Scholarship, NYJTL is able to recognize exceptional achievement and award college scholarships to outstanding students. NYJTL scholarships will be awarded June 5 at 2 pm at the closing ceremony.

For more information. please visit nyjtl.org/mayor-dinkins-cup/ or contact Tournament Director Michele Cope at mayordinkinscup@nyjtl.org

The Power of Tennis: Joshuah Gyebi and Dylan Chervony

Posted on by Sadia Saba

Tennis has the power to change lives, and the unique influence of this sport can be seen in the stories of Joshuah Gyebi, 18, and Dylan Chervony, 15. Joshuah and Dylan were both students at Icahn Charter School 2, located in the Bronx, where they participated in the NYJTL ACES Afterschool Program throughout middle school. Now, the two are ACES graduates and have made it into their high school varsity and junior varsity tennis teams at the prestigious Fordham Preparatory School.

Though at the time the ACES program was new at their school, Joshuah and Dylan quickly became active in the program. Joshuah resonated the most with tennis amongst his peers. Victor Ayudant, his coach and the Recreational Coordinator for ACES, saw the potential and drive in him. Because of this, he would take Joshuah to play every weekend at the nearby Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning.  Joshuah recalls that he would lose terribly at every one of these matches, but that did not deter him. The greatest lesson he has learned from the experience was the importance of perseverance. “You need to be there for the highs and lows,” Joshuah says. Eventually, Joshuah sharpened his skills and became captain of Icahn 2’s ACES tennis team for three years in a row. Similarly, Dylan’s love for tennis started when he began at ACES. Previously having played basketball, he said “tennis gave me a very different feeling.” Dylan loved the unique skills he was learning in the sport. After some time he, too, became captain of the ACES team. Joshuah and Dylan competed in several NYJTL tournaments such as the President’s Cup, ACEster Cup, and the Mayors’ Cup, now known as the Mayor Dinkins Cup.

Joshuah and Dylan are not the only two individuals who benefited from Victor’s passion for helping young people reach their full potential. To create a sense of community and promote play, Victor brings students from Icahn 2, where he first started as a coach, to play tennis at the Cary Leeds Center on weekends. They practice drills, play matches, and sharpen their skills all while having fun on the court. Joshuah and Dylan were once those children that Victor would bring, but now they help lead the sessions and mentor the young students from Icahn 2. “I want to teach them about leadership. By helping me coach, they learn how to lead by example,” says Victor.  

Tennis had an impact on both their lives beyond the tennis court, and played a pivotal role in both their personal growth. “I strived to do better in school just so I could join Coach Victor and play tennis,” Dylan remembers. “I’m hard on my kids. They know that the only way they could have fun with me on the court is if they are doing well in school. Tennis and education go hand in hand,” says Victor. For Joshuah, the most important life skill he learned was discipline. Tennis taught him to understand his strengths, analyze his weaknesses, and do the same to his opponent. This taught him about self-reflection, and he found himself bringing this to other areas of his life such as school. “It helps me explore how I am doing well and how I can improve,” Joshuah says. The many years of playing tennis in ACES taught the boys much about sportsmanship, perseverance, and the ability to deal with adversity- both on and off the court. 

The mentorship and positive role models that NYJTL provided them throughout middle school were deeply influential in their success in tennis and in their own personal lives. Now, Dylan and Joshuah are ecstatic to be playing for their high school varsity tennis teams, and are still volunteers for NYJTL programs such as Serve and Connect with NYPD at the Cary Leeds Center. The boys are planning on attending college, and hope to continue to play tennis in their universities and beyond.  

NYJTL Professional Tennis Tournament Leads Into US Open

Posted on by Sadia Saba

New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) is excited to welcome back the NYJTL Bronx Open from August 14-21, 2022 at the world-class Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the south Bronx. This year’s event is a women’s $60,000 USTA Pro-Circuit Tournament during the week leading into the US Open Qualifying tournament. This event continues a long history of hosting professional tennis tournaments throughout NYJTL’s 50 years of service. It is one of the longest standing tournaments held at one location in the United States. The NYJTL Bronx Open will feature a main draw with 32 singles players plus a 16-team doubles’ event and a 32-player qualifying event. In addition, the Cary Leeds Center will serve as a practice court facility for the US Open and will host the US Open Junior Qualifying tournament.

Bringing the Community Together

“We are elated to experience what NYJTL is investing into our community,” says Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Bringing premier events to the Bronx has been incredibly impactful, and I am grateful to NYJTL for empowering the next generation of future tennis stars to get out and play at the beautiful Cary Leeds Center.”

Since its inception when the tournament was played on the public courts in Crotona Park, the NYJTL Bronx Open has admitted spectators at no charge to encourage attendance by youth and adults from throughout the community. It provides the opportunity for NYC youth to view professional tennis in a way that may not have otherwise been accessible. NYJTL is committed to providing community-based events for children in need, and ensuring that they are a part of this aspirational tournament.

“We are thrilled to welcome women’s professional tennis back to the Bronx and celebrate the sport that has proven to change lives,” says NYJTL President & CEO Udai Tambar. “As Arthur Ashe once said, the game teaches our children about ‘matters more important than tennis’. It is crucial for young people to see our values of healthy living, character, and teamwork actualized. The competitors are invaluable role models that display the importance of perseverance, and teach our children that they can dream bigger and achieve their goals.”

Sponsorships

This year the NYJTL Bronx Open will take place at the Cary Leeds Center for the second time. With access to 20 tennis courts and two additional stadium courts with permanent seating for more than 800 spectators, the Victor Kiam Stadium and the Pershing Square Stadium offer a courtside view of the world to the community, creating an unmatched up-close and intimate tennis viewing experience.

NYJTL is actively recruiting more like-minded partners and sponsors that look to serve the community and reach a broad audience during this key window of media exposure. The 2019 Bronx Open gained coverage on the local, national, and international level and had more than 60,000 unique visitors view its website. This world class event garnered attention from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Tennis.com, NY1, and other notable press outlets.

Sponsorship of the NYJTL Bronx Open offers unique benefits to corporate marketers whose advertising strategies align with the strong, global demographics of women’s tennis which is the undisputed global leader in women’s sport.  Sponsorship presents the following marketing benefits and opportunities:

  • Print and Digital Media
  • Social Media
  • Promotional Activities
  • On-Site Signage & Benefits
  • Entertainment
  • Charitable Activities
  • Broadcast Potential

If you are interested in leveraging this event for good, please contact Tournament Director, Joe Ceriello at jceriello@nyjtl.org

About NYJTL:

The mission of New York Junior Tennis & Learning is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court.  Since 1971, NYJTL has changed lives through tennis, education, healthy living, and character development programs.  Today, it is the largest youth tennis and education non-profit in the nation, reaching more than 85,000 K-12 New York City youth.

NYJTL provides after school programming in approximately 30 schools and community tennis programming at approximately 40 sites throughout New York City in the summer months and at additional sites that operate during the school year.  In addition, NYJTL designed, funded (with NYC), built and operates the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning, at which it provides free and commercial tennis programming year-round as well as life skills, character development and healthy living lessons.  All NYJTL community tennis and after school programs are offered at no cost to its participants.

NYJTL is looking forward to celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022!

Contact: Joe Ceriello
Chief Marketing & Development Officer
jceriello@nyjtl.org
(917) 693-6672