ORLANDO, Fla.— The United States Tennis Association (USTA) recently announced that it has awarded a $10,000 Collegiate Community Hub grant to University of Hawai'I men's and women's tennis programs. The grant will go towards defraying some of the costs associated with providing tennis programs that are open to the public.
 
The USTA's Collegiate Community Hub initiative, which launched in 2021, is designed to encourage colleges and universities to open their varsity tennis facilities to the public. The grant funds are intended to assist with some of the increased costs associated with operating a public facility. This opportunity is a one-time grant to aid in opening programs to the public for play and/or programming.
 
"Collegiate Community Hubs increase the accessibility of high-quality tennis courts in communities across the country, which is vitally important to the continued growth of tennis," said Craig Morris, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. "Not only does this initiative benefit the general public, but also creates revenue-generating and community-building opportunities for collegiate tennis programs."
 
Since 2021, 50 colleges or universities have launched Community Hubs, spanning all three NCAA divisions, as well as NAIA and junior colleges. Since this initiative's inception, more than 400 new tennis courts have become available to the public, impacting an estimated 10,000 tennis players across the country. 
 
"We're absolutely thrilled to receive this USTA grant that will help us transform our facility into a vibrant Collegiate Community Hub," says men's head coach Henrick Bode. "This is an incredible opportunity for our programs to deepen our connection with our community and cultivate a thriving tennis culture right here at UH. We're excited to continue building our program that will inspire, develop, and connect players of all ages through the sport we love. We envision our courts becoming a central gathering place for tennis enthusiasts to play, learn, and cheer on our Rainbow Warriors! Go 'Bows!"
 
"We are deeply grateful to the USTA and ITA for selecting the University of Hawai'i as a recipient of the Collegiate Community Hub Award," says UH women's tennis head coach Jun Hernandez. "This generous $10,000 grant will significantly aid our efforts in providing accessible and inclusive tennis programs to our community. We are committed to using these funds to promote a welcoming environment where tennis is available to all, and we look forward to continuing our work to elevate the sport in Hawai'i. Thank you for your support and for helping us make a positive impact on the lives of many."