News

The USTA announced today a new three-year partnership between USTA Serves, the USTA’s philanthropic entity, and the New Look Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by R & B superstar Usher Raymond IV, designed to mentor youth to become global and community leaders.  The partnership will help guide thousands of American youth in using their athletic and creative talents to become leaders in their local communities by expanding both tennis and service opportunities to youth across the country.

"I’m very excited about this new partnership, which extends the outreach of USTA Serves by working with one of the most dynamic organizations in the country," said Deborah Slaner Larkin, Executive Director, USTA Serves.  "Working with the New Look Foundation provides USTA Serves the opportunity to reach even more youth, and continue using tennis and education to help build leaders in communities across the country."

"We are excited to continue our work with the USTA and look forward to a long term partnership." said Shawn H. Wilson, president of New Look Foundation.  "We have a common mission, to enrich young people, and together both organizations can make this goal a reality."

The New Look Foundation provides the training and tools that allow young leaders to create and implement service projects within their own communities. Using leadership as a common thread, New Look and USTA are combining efforts to expand service opportunities across the country.  New Look will work with the USTA’s 555  National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters – which reach 225,000 children – and other qualified tennis and education programs to expand young people’s leadership capabilities and opportunities.

Specifically, the New Look Foundation will develop a pilot service-learning curriculum for a select group of NJTL chapters geared towards expanding young people’s leadership in communities off the tennis court while building their commitment and dedication to improving their skills as a tennis player.  The New Look Foundation will train NJTL chapter leaders to implement the curriculum, which will focus on tennis and the history, culture and industry that surrounds the tennis community, allowing youth to incorporate tennis and community service.

USTA Serves and the New Look Foundation will also explore the opportunity to create a Kids Day of Sport and Service for youth across the country, with the belief that linking sport and service together will inspire youth to follow Usher’s example and become leaders in their communities.