NEW “NEIGHBORHOODS” ADDED TO USTA SERVES’ “AVENUE OF ACES” AT THE USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER

Written by: Staff on 1st May 2012

NEW “NEIGHBORHOODS” ADDED TO USTA SERVES’ “AVENUE OF ACES” AT THE USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER |

US Open Champions Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Stefanie Graf, and Late Wheelchair Star Randy Snow to be Part of Charitable Initiative

White Plains, N.Y., May 1, 2012 – USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association, announced today that it will complement its donor-supported Avenue of Aces by adding new “neighborhoods” honoring US Open singles champions Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Stefanie Graf, and the late wheelchair tennis pioneer Randy Snow. They join tennis legends Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Billie Jean King in lending their names to the Avenue of Aces charitable initiative, which allows the public to order their own personalized pavers.

The Avenue of Aces provides an opportunity for supporters of USTA Serves to create a lasting legacy by ordering personalized pavers on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—the home of the US Open. Since its inception in 2005, the Avenue of Aces initiative has raised more than $1.5 million to support programs that benefit people with disabilities and children in underserved communities with opportunities to play tennis, fight obesity, improve academics, and apply for college scholarships.

“USTA Serves is honored to have the support of these great champions to help make a difference in the lives of America’s youth,” said Mary Carillo, President, USTA Serves. “Through the Avenue of Aces Neighborhood initiative, USTA Serves will be able to expand tennis and educational opportunities in underserved communities across the nation.”

USTA Serves has granted more than $10 million to fund 226 programs in 43 states, including $600,000 to adaptive tennis programs for people with special needs. In addition, USTA Serves has awarded more than $4 million in college scholarships and player incentive awards to more than 770 middle school students and high school seniors. To date, USTA Serves has awarded more than $14 million in grants and scholarships to people and programs throughout the country in order to provide the underserved youth with greater opportunities to realize success.

“I’m honored to have a neighborhood on the Avenue of Aces, to be a part of US Open history and to be moving in with other champions,” said Navratilova. “I support USTA Serves’ efforts to use the powerful combination of tennis and education to make our youth healthy, fit and academically strong.”

Those wishing to order a paver in the neighborhood of their favorite champion may do so by visiting www.ustaserves.com/paver or by calling (914) 696-7223.

Topics: Avenue of Aces, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Randy Snow, Stefanie Graf