Kings County Tennis League Announces $100,000 Pledge From Renowned Brooklyn-based Artist Eddie Martinez
Brooklyn, NY – December 2, 2024 – Kings County Tennis League, Inc. (KCTL) is honored to announce a generous $100,000 donation pledge from acclaimed Brooklyn-based artist Eddie Martinez. A dedicated annual supporter of KCTL, Martinez made this contribution in memory of his close friend and tennis partner, Richard Webley, who also supported KCTL in multiple ways.
The first $20,000 installment of Martinez’s extraordinary $100,000 pledge is scheduled for 2024 with the remaining installments distributed over the following four years. This timely donation will be allocated to KCTL’s year-end campaign, which is focused on expanding opportunities for young players ages 12-15 at three newly renovated tennis courts located at De Hostos Park in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
“I loved getting to know Rich on and off the court. KCTL connects communities and kids through tennis, and I hope my support will help foster relationships as meaningful as the one I had with Rich. I can personally attest that tennis is a sport that changes lives, which is why I am so supportive of KCTL’s mission,” said Eddie Martinez.
Webley, who passed away in 2023 following a courageous battle with cancer, first introduced Martinez to KCTL in 2018. Martinez immediately felt a deep connection with the organization’s mission: to combine tennis and education to spark the potential of children living in Brooklyn’s public housing communities.
Martinez’s involvement with KCTL has only grown since then. In 2022, he initiated KCTL’s first art auction, which has since become an annual event, called Paint the Lines, celebrating both tennis and art. Over the past three years, this auction has raised more than $200,000, with contributions from 52 artists, helping expand KCTL’s programs.
“Eddie’s donation arrives at a pivotal moment for KCTL,” said KCTL Executive Director, Joe Ceriello. “In 2024, we expanded our tennis court capacity from one to six full-size courts and doubled down on our commitment to supporting youth aged 12-15—an age group at higher risk of disengaging from sports, according to national data.”
To honor Webley’s legacy, KCTL will introduce the Richard Webley Award. This award, to be presented annually at The Jamboree, KCTL’s end-of-summer event, will recognize a student who embodies Webley’s passion for tennis and his dedication to leadership on and off the court. Webley was an enthusiastic supporter of KCTL, and this award will celebrate a young person who demonstrates both a commitment to the sport and a positive influence within the community.