Public Tennis, Inc. gets a boost from Host & Home to benefit Community Tennis outreach programs
August 29, 2024
Hilton Head’s Host & Home Luxury Vacation Rentals recently announced that Public Tennis Inc. (PTi), a USTA Community Tennis Association and a USTA Foundation NJTL, is the beneficiary of its initiative to give back to and invest in the community in which it operates.
“We’re contributing a percentage of each reservation dollar to Public Tennis, so it can grow its outreach programs and better serve the greater Hilton Head community,” said Principal Steven Wood. He describes this philanthropic effort as something near and dear to his heart.
“I’m an avid tennis player and I believe in the benefits of the sport to our youth, to athletes with disabilities, and to under-resourced and underserved populations. We look forward to seeing Public Tennis continue to grow its programs with our help.”
Public Tennis is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization committed to making tennis affordable and accessible, to growing tennis at public and school facilities, and to bringing the therapeutic, athletic, and social benefits of tennis to everyone. PTi’s programs focus on introducing tennis to youngsters and building programs for players of all means and abilities.
“Host & Home approached us at an opportune time,” said Wayne Lilley, PTi Executive Director. “We are in the process of building our organization to support growth in our programs in both Beaufort and Jasper counties. This partnership will help us enormously to reach out to more children and athletes with disabilities and help us reach organizational sustainability goals.”
PTi’s funding sources are local, regional, and national, including charitable community foundations and trusts, USTA grants, USTA Foundation grants and programs, and local tennis fundraising activities and events including Hilton Head Pro League and Adult Team Tennis.
Executive Director Lilley explains how recent developments have come together fortuitously to support growth. “In a window of several months, we have concluded a capacity-building program with USTA Foundation, Host & Home so generously agreed to contribute on an ongoing basis, and we established a relationship with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, which resulted in the creation of the Public Tennis Community Support Fund. All of this positions us for local impact and long-term stability.”
You can support the Public Tennis Community Support Fund by visiting https://publictennis.org/
For more information, please visit publictennis.org or contact Wayne Lilley at [email protected]. If you are interested in coaching with PTi, simply text your name to (843) 310-6080.
About Public Tennis Inc.
Public Tennis Inc. (PTi) is a group of approximately 70 volunteers and 10 teaching pros who use our passion for tennis to help kids and adults learn and get into the game. We see tennis as a community sport, learned and played at public facilities. Like the founders of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit over 20 years ago who coordinated with the Town of Hilton Head to build Chaplin Park, we’re committed to affordable, accessible tennis for all. This means outreach programs, serving those who might not otherwise have access to tennis, and adaptive tennis for athletes with disabilities. It also means working closely with local government and advocating for building more public courts. Public Tennis programs include youth, adult and family clinics, Special Olympics and adaptive programs, summer camps, and Phys Ed classes at elementary schools. To deliver programs, we partner with Hilton Head Island Recreation, Beaufort County Parks & Recreation, SOAR Special Recreation, Special Olympics, and the school districts of Beaufort County and Jasper County. We coach approximately 160 youth and adult athletes with disabilities and conduct ongoing clinics with approximately 200 youth participants yearly.
About Host & Home
About Community Foundation of the Lowcountry
For 30 years, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL) has been connecting people, organizations and resources. CFL has helped build stronger Lowcountry communities by assisting individuals, families, businesses and groups achieve their philanthropic goals. With over 500 charitable funds, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is the largest source of unrestricted philanthropic resources dedicated to Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties. For more information, visit cf-lowcountry.org or call 843-681-9100.
