In May 2021, the USTA Foundation launched its Rally for the Future campaign with an ambition of raising $20 million over a three-year period. When the initiative launched, chairperson Chris Evert stated, “While more people have rediscovered tennis over the past year, we have also seen an increasing number of children who can benefit tremendously from NJTL’s tennis and leadership programs. Rally for the Future will help us close that gap in many communities.”
Less than a year in, the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association is already halfway to reaching the goal, one that will ensure underserved youth throughout the country continue to receive access to tennis programming, after school activities and educational resources.
More than 30% of the $10 million raised in 2021 came at the US Open. It was then where Washington, D.C. native Robin Montgomery, a USTA Foundation Excellence Team member, helped highlight how these funds make an impact when she became the first American to sweep the girls’ singles and doubles titles at Flushing Meadows in 29 years.
Montgomery, who started playing tennis at the Junior Tennis Champions' Center (JTCC)—a National Tennis & Learning (NJTL) chapter based in College Park, Md.—previously received financial support through the USTA Foundation’s individual player grants in her journey to becoming the No. 2-ranked junior in the world. Around $6 million of the 2021 funds have since been allotted to NJTLs and scholarships for 47 student leaders.