The Professional Tennis Registry Foundation was established in 1979 as the charitable arm of PTR. In order to pursue its aims of raising, administering and distributing funds for charitable activities, the Foundation was granted 501 (C)(3) status as an educational foundation by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. PTR has been granted 501 (C)(6) status.

Each year, PTR members donate to the Foundation along with their membership renewals. These funds are pooled together and used for various charitable and research activities. Some of these charitable activities have included USTA Schools Programs and National Junior Tennis Leagues, a research grant to determine the effects of anaerobic activity on aerobic capacity, junior scholarships and other worthwhile projects. The Foundation sponsors the PTR ROHO Wheelchair Tennis Championships and the annual Special Olympics Tennis Championship. The Foundation has also sponsored a supplement on wheelchair tennis and wheelchair tennis workshops.

Additionally, the Foundation sponsors free lesson and equipment distribution programs such as Racquet Roundup. If you would like more information on the PTR Foundation, you may write for a grant application, which will include biannual deadlines for submitting applications, and grant qualification requirements.

Each year, PTR members have the option to donate to the Foundation when they send in their membership renewals. These funds are pooled with other contributions and used for a wide variety of tennis research and charitable endeavors. Contributions to the PTR Foundation make a world of difference in making tennis available to everyone.

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the PTR Foundation donated thousands of dollars of Kaelin PTR clothing, Diadora tennis shoes and Gamma equipment to PTR members who were devastated by the storms. Nearly 100 PTR members benefited from the Foundation¹s efforts, including New Orleanian Lloyd Dillon, who lost everything but the clothes on his back.

PTR on Campus and ACE Workshops, both funded by the Foundation, provide teaching workshops free to college students and minority participants who agree to reciprocate with ten hours of tennis instruction to community tennis programs. In addition, the PTR Foundation supports and promotes wheelchair tennis through player and instructor clinics, published materials and the PTR/ROHO $17,500 Wheelchair Tennis Championships. Over the past four years, the Special Olympics has been on the roster of organizations that benefit from your contributions.

Racquet Roundup, a PTR Foundation program, collects used racquets for distribution to needy players and organizations. The racquets are restrung by the PTR Foundation with strings provided by Gamma. Racquets, shoes and balls are also given to organizations like Camp ASCCA, an Easter Seals camp that enables children with disabilities to enjoy recreation and outdoor education. Many other worthy organizations and programs have also enjoyed donations as well, including The Methodist Home for Children, Las Vegas Community Center and Wilson County Home School Tennis Clinic.

Educational grants and scholarships are awarded by the PTR Foundation Board of Directors. One recipient, PTR member Ted Mascola, benefited from an equipment donation from the PTR Foundation for his Special Olympics athletes. Sports Tutor heard about Ted¹s program and donated a Tennis Tutor ball machine worth $1,500. PTR Foundation¹s work has far reaching effects on tennis.

This is just a sample of how contributions were used this year by the PTR Foundation. Ensuring tennis is available to everyone is the number one priority of the Foundation. It cannot be accomplished without donations. No amount is too small to contribute to growing the game of a lifetime. In addition, donors can help determine how their investment in tennis is used, by earmarking donations to benefit a specific area such as wheelchair tennis, junior development or education scholarships to the PTR International Tennis Symposium.

PTR members: please include a donation to the PTR Foundation in your membership renewal. Your contribution will . . .

Make a World of Difference.