Tayeh to take the helm of KCTL board as organization is poised to produce its next strategic plan

BROOKLYN, May 22, 2024 — Kings County Tennis League, Inc. (KCTL), a sports-based youth development non-profit, today announced that Karen Tayeh has been appointed Board Chair effective April 25, 2024. Ms. Tayeh is a KCTL veteran who has held multiple leadership positions on the board since joining in 2018. She most recently served as the KCTL Development Committee Chair during the organization’s recent and impressive growth period and prior to that, served as the Nominating and Engagement Committee chair ensuring the organization attracted top-tier board talent.

Ms. Tayeh comes into this new role with a wealth of experience having previously served on the board of Packer Collegiate Institute for seven years and is an active member of AllinBklyn, a women’s giving circle committed to strengthening Brooklyn communities through philanthropy. In addition, she is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and inherently aware of the importance of KCTL’s holistic approach towards participant health and wellness.

“I am grateful and excited to have the opportunity to work in this new role with our talented staff, my devoted fellow board members and our tireless volunteers,” said Ms. Tayeh, “to grow our program to serve more children and deepen our impact in our communities.” 

“Karen Tayeh served as one of the lead architects in KCTL’s first strategic plan, laying the groundwork for the organization’s expanded services over the past five years,” said Joe Ceriello, KCTL Executive Director.

“It is an exciting time for the organization to appoint a leader who understands the organization inside and out and to take the reins as our goals become more ambitious and we look to build upon our past success, building deeper and richer services for our community.”

Ms. Tayeh will succeed KCTL Board Chair Karen Levine, who led the organization’s board from 2020-2024. “We are greatly indebted to Karen for leading the KCTL board during these past years. Karen has had a tremendous impact on the KCTL community. On behalf of the KCTL Board and staff, we sincerely thank her for her contributions to our mission, and we look forward with excitement as Karen moves into her new role as Chair Emeritus, continuing to support our efforts and serve the community,” said KCTL Founder, Michael McCasland.

About KCTL
Kings County Tennis League (KCTL) combines tennis and education to spark the potential of children living in and around Brooklyn public housing. Founded in 2010, KCTL provides free, year-round tennis-centered programs to nearly 700 youth living in and around six NYCHA developments; the children in each housing development form a “tennis club” (e.g. Marcy Tennis Club), which comprise the Kings County Tennis League. By creating courts on underused play spaces in NYCHA developments, and bringing our staff, volunteers, equipment and programs directly to where our students reside, KCTL eliminates the physical and financial barriers to tennis and creates community spaces that foster economic connectedness, the strongest known predictor of upward economic mobility. A thoughtfully designed pathway and an ensemble of caring and authentic staff and volunteers help KCTL cultivate safe spaces for children to play, learn, and develop the social and emotional learning capacities that youth need to succeed.