Our Brand New Winter Program Begins Next Month!

Summer tennis at five public housing developments in Bed-Stuy. Check.
After-school tennis at Marcy Playground. Check.
Indoor Winter Tennis at Pratt Insitute...? Check!

In line with our effort to make tennis available to the kids year round, we are proud to announce the establishment of a brand new Winter Tennis Season based at Pratt next month. We will continue to teach and reinforce the fundamentals of tennis, develop individual strategy on the court, and introduce specialty shots such as drop shots and lobs.

The eight-week program begins Saturday, February 4 and ends Saturday, April 1 with a day off for Presidents' Day Weekend, February 18. Six of the Saturdays will be actual tennis classes at Pratt, while the other two will be field trips to inspire unique learning opportunities, much like our past trips to Google and Made in Midtown Shoe Factory. 

Following exceptionally strong youth interest, enrollment is closed. Volunteer space remains open. If you are 16 or older and available for four or more sessions, you can register to volunteer here.

Fall After School Tennis at Marcy is a Go!

It's official; we are breaking tradition—for the better. KCTL is opening a brand new Fall After School Program at Marcy Playground, Monday through Thursday, beginning October 10 to extend engagement with our students following the Annual Jamboree Tournament. Though the lessons are based at Marcy, students from all five sites are eligible for participation. This high-intensity athletic program will give our kids the opportunity to drastically improve their tennis skills with constant play. Thank you to all of the donors and supporters who have made this initiative possible.

Change Kids' Lives through Tennis as a Volunteer

It's official: We are accepting applications from individuals aged 16+ who are ready to activate the KCTL mission: Bringing Tennis to the Kids.

Tennis skills are appreciated, but not required. Most of all, we are interested in positive attitudes and a passion for inspiring and motivating children in underserved communities.

Most of our volunteer opportunities are "on the ground"--on the tennis courts, blacktops, and playgrounds surrounding public housing developments in Bed-Stuy. This is a biweekly commitment from May 28 to October 1 at an assigned teaching site. To quality, current and prospective volunteers must complete one training session on April 16 or 23.

Additionally, we're open to meeting volunteers who can share their skills in Fundraising, Event Planning, Grant Writing, Photography, Videography, Web Design/Development, and Public Relations.

Registration

• Complete our general volunteer signup form.

• Register for one of two mandatory training sessions in April.

We look forward to meeting you!

#GivingTuesday 2015: Your Gift Will Make a Difference

This Giving Tuesday, you can make a tangible difference for Kings County Tennis League. Through the end of 2015, we are looking for your support on three key goals. Read on to learn how you can be a part of our victory.

Three Goals for 2016

Establish two new sites. KCTL wants to grow its program to sixth and seventh locations in 2016. Each expansion costs $10,000 and we don't want to cut corners!

Jackie-Robinson-team

Renovate a tennis court. We'd like to renovate one of our existing locations— a dilapidated tennis court right in the middle of Sumner Houses in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn— with a new surface and an actual net. This $20,000 renovation will ensure that children at Sumner Houses have a safe place to play and learn.

Sumner Tennis Court

Educate through new, non-tennis experiences. After taking the kids to Google earlier this year, we have a trip planned to an actual sneaker factory in Manhattan, but we need your help to raise $1,000 to fund it. Students will learn how a sneaker is actually made, see what it takes to run and operate a production schedule, and explore the path to entrepreneurship.

KCTL Google

Click here to make your tax-deductible contribution!

In the Spirit of Our Fundraiser, Serving Courtside, Tell Us Why You Serve!

Invitations have arrived! Serving Courtside, Kings County Tennis League's Sixth Annual Fundraiser, was officially released to the public yesterday, June 24. It's going to be held on Wednesday, September 9 at M1-5 Lounge in TriBeCa. We're excited to make this the biggest, most wonderful party yet, and we're calling on you to play a part in this victory for KCTL.

KCTL-Serving-Courtside-Flyer-2015

Just like the event's name implies, our Annual Fundraiser is an opportunity for all of KCTL's supporters to gather together to serve--and celebrate--the program off the tennis court. If you're KCTL supporter in any capacity--parent, player, volunteer, friend or acquaintance--show off your experience with the program using #IServeBecause on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

New to KCTL, or have yet to get involved directly? Don't worry; you're not excluded from the fun. You can still check out all the posts tagged #IServeBecause to live vicariously through their authors. :)

Aside from our #IServeBecause social campaign, be sure to come back here, to our blog, for a special #IServeBecause series featuring a new KCTL supporter each week. You'll be able to learn about how our tennis-mentorship program positively impacts everyone involved at the individual level.

Our Season Opener is This Saturday!

It's almost time to rally at all five KCTL sites!

We'd like to extend an especially warm welcome to the new kids on the court, Jackie Robinson Tennis Club. As for everyone else--Marcy, Tompkins, Lafayette Gardens and Sumner--we're excited to have you back!

Our season begins this Saturday, May 30 at 1:00 PM; volunteers are expected to arrive by 12:00 PM. We look forward to seeing everyone then.

Parents, if you haven't yet registered your child, you can still sign up here to guarantee his or her spot.

season-opener-five-teams-2015

Fifth Site, Jackie Robinson Tennis Club, Joins KCTL

There’s a new team on the court: Jackie Robinson Tennis Club. Watch out, Marcy, Tompkins, Lafayette Gardens and Sumner; you’ve got new competition in this year’s Jamboree!

Joining KCTL as the program’s fifth team, Jackie Robinson Tennis Club will serve the youth residents of Bed-Stuy’s Breevort Houses – literally in their backyard – at Jackie Robinson Park (341 Malcolm X Blvd). A NYC Parks Department facility, Jackie Robinson Park hosts four hard-surface tennis courts in excellent condition. The site’s youth athletes will represent their team in gray jerseys designed to resemble the Brooklyn Dodgers uniform worn by the park’s namesake.

Jackie Robinson Tennis Club is KCTL’s first site addition in three years; previously, Sumner Tennis Club, established in 2012, was the newest team. Located in southern Bed-Stuy a considerable distance from the other four teams’ sites, Jackie Robinson and the Brevoort Houses symbolize great progress in KCTL’s vision of all kids in Brooklyn enjoying regular access to tennis.

If you are the parent of a child living in the Brevoort Houses and would like to enroll your child in our weekly tennis program, please fill out our signup form.