The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) today announced that on Saturday, February 16, Cora Masters Barry, founder/chief executive officer of the Recreation Wish List Committee (RWLC) of Washington, DC, will be inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation (MATEF) Hall of Fame. The former first lady of the District of Columbia is receiving this honor due to her significant contributions to the sport of tennis and in education.
“I salute the work of Cora Masters Barry and her commitment to the District of Columbia. She truly shows us the power that one committed individual can make in the lives of others,” said Clark E. Ray, director of DPR. “Her leadership reaches past education and playing tennis; it has revitalized a community.”
The $5.1 million state-of-the-art Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) was made possible by the RWLC which was founded by Barry in 1995. Since its opening in 2001, the Center has empowered the lives of thousands of youth, adults and seniors through tennis and education, and now ranks as one of the most prestigious, tennis and learning facilities in the country. SETLC is operated in partnership with DPR.
I am honored,” said Mrs. Barry, “and accept this award on behalf of all of the people who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of children through tennis and education.” The mission of SETLC is to use the sport of tennis as a builder of confidence, teacher of fair play, mediator in using strengths to overcome weaknesses, motivator of academic excellence and bridge between competition and compassion.
As the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation is a non-profit corporation which supports tennis and education programs for financially disadvantaged youth living in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
“Mrs. Barry is at the forefront of tennis growth in Washington, DC and the Mid Atlantic region,” said Rose Hobson, president of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Mid-Atlantic Section. “She raised the roof on DPR’s Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) in Southeast Washington which has become a model for other tennis and learning centers throughout the country. Through her efforts, many at-risk youth have been given the opportunity to learn the game of tennis and improve academically.”
The MATEF Hall of Fame Gala will be held this Saturday, February 16 at 6:30 pm at the Army Navy Country Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive in Arlington, Virginia. Mrs. Barry will join Anne and Mike Geier, Richey Reneberg and Roy Van Brunt as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. MATEF will also commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon Championship with Virginia Wade as honorary chair for the evening.
For more information on the Recreation Wish List Committee and DPR’s Southeast Tennis and Learning Center the public is invited to call 202. 678. 7530 or visit www.recreationwishlist.org. For tickets this weekend’s MATEF Hall of Fame Gala where Mrs. Barry will be honored, call (301) 229-5401.
About Cora Masters Barry
Cora Masters Barry, former first lady of the District of Columbia, is the Founder and CEO of Recreation Wish List Committee (RWLC) of Washington DC, an organization comprised of area business, government and community leaders which has been responsible for the renovation of several recreation centers. As a result of her visionary leadership of the Recreation Wishlist Committee and Southeast Tennis & Learning Center, Mrs. Barry has received numerous awards. She was awarded the "2003 Community Service Leadership Award,” by the D.C. Chamber of Commerce and The National Congress of Black Women Inc. honored Mrs. Barry in 2003 for her service to youth and vision for establishing the SETLC. The Savannah State University Foundation, Inc. presented Mrs. Barry with its “2003 Civic Leadership Award” given annually to individuals who have demonstrated courage, veracity and a sincere commitment to purposeful change within their community. In 2002, she received the “Dr. Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, Jr. Memorial Medallion” presented by the Roundtable Associates Inc, and in 2001, she received the National Child Labor Committee’s “Lewis Hine Award,” both for outstanding service to children.
Under her leadership, the SETLC was named the “2005 Youth Tennis and Learning Facility” of the year by the United States Tennis Association and honored that year at the U.S. Open. Mrs. Barry has been a resident of Washington, DC for over 35 years and has two daughters, Lalanya Masters Abner and Tamara Masters Wilds Lawson.
About MATEF and USTA
As the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Education Foundation is a non-profit corporation which supports tennis and education programs for financially disadvantaged youth living in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The Foundation strives to encourage education, health, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and high performance among the youth within the Mid-Atlantic region. The USTA/Mid-Atlantic section, one of 17 sections of the United States Tennis Association, is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the game of tennis by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities.
Media Contact:
MosesAlexander Greene: (202) 673-7684