Media-Only Contacts: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195 (DPR); Kelly Swanson,(202) 783-5500 (SETLC); Jack Deschauer, (202) 683-3134 (WTT)
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) today announced that on Tuesday, July 8, scholar athletes from its Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) will join other Washington Metropolitan area youth to participate in a tennis clinic featuring eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. The clinic, which is free and open to the public for viewing, is part of Opening Day festivities of the Washington Kastles, the newest franchise of the World Team Tennis Pro League (WTT) presented by Advanta.
The youth-focused clinic will run from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm and be held at Kastles Stadium at CityCenterDC, an intimate and unique specially-built tennis stadium located at 11th and H Streets, NW, in the heart of downtown Washington. Approximately 50 children will be hosted from the following five charitable and civic organizations: The Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, the Junior Tennis Champions Center at College Park (JTCC), the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP) and the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS).
“What a great honor it is to have Serena Williams and the Washington Kastles host this clinic for area youth as part of their opening day festivities,” said DPR Director Clark E. Ray. “I would like to thank the Kastles and all of the partners who, through this action, are investing in the lives and dreams of our children.”
Participants will receive training from former ATP pro tennis player and JTCC Director Martin Blackman and from Williams during the hour-long clinic. During the first 30 minutes, clinic participants will warm up and run drills with Blackman, director of the Junior Tennis Champions Center, one of the best junior tennis training centers in the world and a partner of the Kastles. The second half-hour will feature tips from Williams, who has advanced to the semifinals of this year’s Wimbledon Championships, a tournament she won in 2002 and 2003.
The SETLC, located at 701 Mississippi Avenue in Southeast Washington, will also be recognized throughout the day for its commitment to providing premier athletic and educational enrichment for the children of the District of Columbia. As the flagship project of the Recreation Wish List Committee (RWLC), a non-profit public/private partnership with the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation, the SETLC serves hundreds of District youth each year through tennis lessons and classroom enrichment.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Washington Kastles’ home opener,” said RWLC Founder and Executive Director Cora Masters Barry. “The opportunity for our students to see Serena Williams, her teammates and other professional tennis players will further our goal of instilling a love of tennis and learning in the lives of these children. “ Mrs. Barry added that the event will give the SETLC youth a first-hand at what they can achieve through hard work and dedication.
In addition to participating in the clinic, youth from the SETLC will join fellow participants and attend evening matches with tickets purchased and donated by PNC Bank; six of those students will also serve as ball boys and girls during match play that evening. Each of the children taking part in the clinic will receive a complimentary Washington Kastles t-shirt. The clinics are sponsored by Washington Kastles’ sponsors Kastle Systems, Pappas Group, Chipotle, GEICO, Hines/Archstone, Allied Capital, Capital Source, Qorvis, Exclusive Resorts, USTA, aka, Drilling Tennis & Golf, The Meltzer Group, Jefferson Wells, EPS Printing Solutions, GVA Advantis, JM Zell, Capitol File Magazine, CoachRider, Latham & Watkins, The George Washington University Hospital, Senate Asphalt, VSGi, and Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP.
According to Kastles’ owner Mark Ein, “This clinic represents all that is important to the Kastles—youth, tennis and community—and we appreciate all of our sponsors for giving these local kids the chance to learn from one of the greatest players in the game’s history. This franchise will always be about more than just displaying great professionalism and ability in tennis. Exposing kids to the lessons inherent in learning to play this wonderful, life-changing sport is fundamental to our vision as well.”
Fans will also have the first chance to see Kastles Stadium, one of the most exciting tennis venues in the United States.
About DC Department of Parks and Recreation
The District of Columbia’s Department of Parks and Recreation presents quality urban recreation and leisure services to residents and visitors to the District of Columbia. The agency supervises and maintains area parks, community facilities, and neighborhood recreation centers as well as coordinates a wide variety of programs including sports leagues, youth development, therapeutic recreation, aquatic programming, outdoor adventure, camping, child care services, and senior citizen activities. Adaptive programs and facilities are available for persons with disabilities. For more information, visit DPR.DC.GOV or call (202) 673-7647.
About The Recreation Wish List Committee and The Southeast Tennis and Learning Center
The Recreation Wish List Committee (RWLC) brings together public and private resources to support the programs and facilities of DC Department of Parks and Recreation. The greatest undertaking of the Recreation Wish List Committee was the construction of the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC) completed in 2001. The SETLC houses six outdoor and four indoor state-of-the-art tennis courts, five classrooms, and a computer lab with twenty-seven new computers. The SETLC represents a unique opportunity to encourage young people from the Washington Metropolitan Area to learn about the game of tennis in a nurturing environment while focusing on education. For more information, visit recreationwishlist.org or call (202) 645-6296.
About the Washington Kastles
The Washington Kastles are the newest franchise of the World TeamTennis Pro League (WTT) presented by Advanta. WTT is known for its team-oriented, co-ed tennis and its encouragement of fan interaction. The Kastles make their league debut in Philadelphia against the Freedoms on Friday, July 4 and make their home debut, featuring Serena Williams, against the Boston Lobsters on Tuesday, July 8. The season ends on July 23 with a home match against the St. Louis Aces. Throughout the season, the Kastles will actively work with a large number of charities and community organizations to share the mission of WTT and bring the game of tennis to the broader community. For tickets, visit www.washingtonkastles.com or call 202-4TENNIS. For more information on World TeamTennis, visit WTT.com.