Tennis Australia this year again nominated United Way Australia and Kids Tennis Foundation as the official charities for Australian Open 2009.

United Way Australia is a charity which aims to raise funds to support disadvantaged young Australians through grassroots mentoring programs; and Kids Tennis Foundation is the only dedicated tennis charity in Australia which introduces disadvantaged kids to the wonderful world of tennis.

Tennis fans visiting Australian Open 2009 on the middle Sunday, Charity Sunday, had the opportunity to help raise money for these two very worthy causes simply by depositing ticket stubs in collection bins around Melbourne Park.

Through the Tennis Australia Charitable Fund, United Way Australia and Kids Tennis Foundation shared in the proceeds of a donation from the Fund for every stub redeemed.

Kids Tennis Foundation sincerely thanks the Australian Open and Tennis Australia for their ongoing support and is truly privileged and ever so grateful to once again receive such a generous donation. Thanks also to all those patrons at AO 2009 who deposited their ticket stubs.

This money certainly goes a long way in helping Kids Tennis Foundation provide many more financially and socially disadvantaged children throughout Australia with the opportunity to learn and play tennis, not to mention the boost to their self-esteem and self-confidence.


THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Kids Tennis Foundation wishes to thank the following tennis clubs and individuals for kindly donating (many of whom on a regular basis) used tennis balls, racquets, other tennis equipment or court time during 2008/09:

Albert Reserve Tennis Centre
Bacchus Marsh Tennis Club
Chris Kachel
Doveton Tennis Club
Harvey Tartakover
Manningham Social Tennis Club
Maribyrnong Park Tennis Club
Shirley Flanders
Strathmore Tennis Club
Tennis School at Box Hill Senior Secondary School
Tennis Victoria
Waverley Tennis Association

All balls and racquets are distributed to coaches for use in KTF programs, or donated to schools so that children can use them during recess, lunchtime, before and after school. With almost 200 programs each week all tennis equipment is gratefully received.

Thank you also to the following tennis clubs who have been most generous in donating court time to Kids Tennis Foundation so that coaches can conduct lessons at nearby tennis courts:

Bendigo Tennis Association
Brunswick West Tennis Club
Carlton Gardens Tennis Club
Dandenong Tennis Club
East Melbourne Tennis Centre
Glenroy Tennis Club
Holy Child Catholic Parish
Lakes Entrance Tennis Club

Being able to use courts free of charge certainly helps our cause no end, as the money we save can go directly back into more programs or keep existing programs going for longer.

Jesse Laino commenced with KTF at the beginning of the year and is conducting programs in the Keilor area. Jesse started playing tennis from the age of 5 and at 11 become a member of Moomba Park Tennis Club (formerly St Matthew's Tennis Club) played junior competition with the club for 6 years and is currently playing men’s night competition in the North Eastern Night Tennis Group (NENTG). Jesse has obtained his level one junior development certificate with ATPCA and has been coaching for 5 years and is this year dedicating his time to coaching full time.

Cameron joined the Kids Tennis Foundation team towards the end of 2008 and is coaching programs in the Grovedale area of Geelong at Grovedale Primary School and Grovedale West Primary School. These schools are in very close vicinity to Grovedale Tennis Club where he is currently the head coach.

Cameron moved from Melbourne, where he was head coach at Westmeadows Primary School, to Grovedale in September last year, where he immediately took over from the previous KTF coach at the Grovedale schools.

Cameron now runs his own business ‘Essential Tennis’ out of Grovedale Tennis Club and he and the club are happy with the progress tennis is making in this area.

Cameron is very enthusiastic and energetic, enjoying working with the school children in the KTF programs. He is currently working through each grade 3&4 at Grovedale West and 4/5/6 at Grovedale Primary School.

Feedback from all the teachers who help out with the tennis classes is all very positive. They report that the kids are really enjoying their tennis, obvious by their attention during the lessons and their willingness to learn.