Tenacity

CONTACT:

1266 Soldiers Field Rd.
Brighton, MA 02135
617-562-0900
www.tenacity.org

Ned Eames, President & Founder

DESCRIPTION:

Tenacity was founded in 1999 "to improve the scholastic, character, and physical development of urban youth through a combination of tennis instruction/competition and academic support, with a focus on life skills." This it is doing, at 24 sites with nearly 3,000 kids in 2004—five years out—through two programs: a three-year, intensive After-School Excellence Program, and a Summer Tennis and Reading Program offering reading, basic tennis instruction, league play and the opportunity to compete citywide in an annual Mayor's Cup Tournament. Such phenomenal growth requires partnerships—in this case with Boston public and charter schools, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, university facilities and the Mayor's Office. Winner of the 2000 National Junior Team League's "Chapter of the Year," and the Tennis Industry Magazine's 2001 national "Junior Development Champion," Tenacity has launched Elementary School Tennis and create a city-wide High School Tennis League. Tenacity's goal is to serve 4,000 young people in the summer and 1,000 in after-school programs within the next four years. The ball is in your court.

(2002: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: Sports and Summer)