USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region Update (September and October 2011)

September 22, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff

Local girl goes to national tournament
The USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region congratulates eight-year-old Rachel Arbitman who made it to the finals in the national "Little Mo" tournament in Chicago in May. Rachel, coached by Yan Vulisky, is a rising star in the 10-and-Under set. “Little Mo” tournaments are the premier challenge for youngsters across the nation to compete against others who are the same age at the Sectional, Regional, National and International Levels. The program is named for Maureen Connelly, who, in 1953, was the first woman to win the Grand Slam of tennis. At 18 years old, she won the Australian Championships, the French Championships, Wimbledon and the United States Championships.



Free one-year USTA 10-and-Under Junior Membership
Now, it’s easier than ever for kids to get in the game. Until Dec. 31, 2011, kids 10 and under, new to the USTA, can receive a free Junior Membership, a $19 value. Kids can participate in the USTA’s QuickStart Tennis program, which offers new rules, kid-sized racquets and slower, lower-bouncing balls. QuickStart doesn’t even require a tennis court, so kids can play anywhere, anytime and at any level. USTA membership includes:

►An annual subscription to the Bounce Newsletter
►Access to play USTA Junior Tournaments
►Access to play USTA Junior Team Tennis

For information on becoming a USTA member, visit TRYUSTA.com/KIDS or call (800) 990-8782 and mention source code “NEWGAME.”



Local student wins USTA scholarship
Christopher Hunter, a student at Half Hollow Hills High School in Melville, N.Y., has received a $10,000 Dwight Mosley Scholarship from USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the USTA. The mission of USTA Serves is to support, monitor and promote programs that enhance the lives of at-risk children and individuals with disabilities through the integration of tennis and education.
Donations to USTA Serves have helped the organization to give more than:

►$3 million in college scholarships and player incentive awards to middle school students and high school seniors.

►$10 million to fund 196 programs in more than 150 cities in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
►18 million hours of mentoring, tutoring and nutritional guidance to more than 170,000 children.
►$427,650 to 17 tennis programs serving people with disabilities in 10 states, plus Puerto Rico.



Long Beach School’s PTA Receives Grant
The East School in Long Beach, N.Y. recently received a grant from the USTA Eastern Section to help prepare its facility so that the QuickStart format could be added to the school’s physical education program. This grant allows for some blacktop repair and the drawing of lines for QuckStart Courts. Pictured above and holding the grant check is Beth Mercante (right), an East School parent and the driving force behind bringing QuickStart Tennis to the children, and Sid Siddiqui (left), the chief executive officer of Long Beach Tennis Center, which will be providing pros to the East School for their program.



Eastern-Long Island Region offers free AED/CPR training and certification
The USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region recently hosted its club owners and member organizations at an AED/CPR training and certification course. This program was provided by Forever 9-The Robbie Levine Foundation. All participants ages 14 and over received their AED/CPR two-year certification following the program. Defibrillators and CPR used by trained individuals can help avert a tragedy. Pictured here, Rachel Leiner and Maddie Binder practice CPR chest compressions during the AED/CPR Training Program provided by Forever 9-The Robbie Levine Foundation.
 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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