USTA Eastern Presents Long Island Tennis Magazine With the 2009 Press Service Award

The United States Tennis Association’s Eastern Section presented 24 awards at its Annual Awards Dinner on Jan. 30, recognizing the ways its members have helped grow tennis—from developing instructional programs for young children, to revitalizing recreational tennis in public housing. Among the awards presented, USTA Eastern honored Long Island Tennis Magazine with its 2009 Press Service Award. The Awards Dinner was held at The Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y.

“It is with great pride that we work in conjunction with associations such as USTA Eastern and the entire local tennis community to promote the growth of tennis,” said David Sickmen, national director of business development for Long Island Tennis Magazine.

The Awards Dinner marked the conclusion of the Eastern Section’s Annual Conference, which focused on volunteer recruitment and development. The awards were presented to individuals and groups in the New York and New Jersey area, as tennis participation continues to grow across the country. A recent study released by the USTA and the Tennis Industry Association showed that more than 30 million people are playing tennis in the United States, for the first time in more than two decades.

“It’s no secret that tennis is becoming more popular,” said D.A. Abrams, executive director of USTA Eastern. “But we don’t always realize how hard people work every day to provide opportunities to learn and play the sport. The Awards Dinner is our opportunity to recognize those who have made 2009 a great year for tennis in our section.”