WTA Creates An Assistance Program For Members And Families

Written by: Staff on 10th November 2011

WTA Creates An Assistance Program For Members And Families

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns the ball to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their group match at the WTA Championships tennis tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, 25 October 2011. EPA/STRINGER TURKEY OUT |

The WTA has established a grant program that will provide assistance to members of the women’s tennis family who are in serious financial need. In return, recipients of the funding will make themselves available to provide volunteer services to tennis, educational or children’s programs.

The program will be called the WTA Assistance Program (WTAAP). Eligible individuals will be current and former WTA players, current and former WTA tournament directors, and the spouses, domestic partners or children of any of those players or tournament directors.

“The WTAAP will initially be funded by up to $100,000 a year in WTA player withdrawal fine money. The WTA’s Board of Directors plans to continue that funding for at least five years, from 2012 through 2016. We anticipate that additional funding will come from other sources, such as individual contributions and fund-raising activities throughout the year,” said WTAAP Chairperson and former WTA Tour supervisor Lisa Grattan.

The WTAAP will receive its initial funding in December 2011, and will be rolled out in January 2012. The WTAAP will be overseen and managed by a Grant Committee comprised of seven individuals who are appointed by the WTA Board of Directors.

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”