USING TENNIS TO TRANSFORM LIVES
The GEICO Game On! and the Sandy Spring Bank Advantage Prince George’s programs are at the core of JTCC’s many community outreach initiatives. Game On! introduces tennis to underserved youth between the ages of 5-11 in Washington D.C. and Advantage Prince George’s does the same at recreation centers and elementary schools across Prince George’s County, MD. JTCC runs three eight-week sessions each year in Spring (April – May), Summer (June – August) and Fall (September – November). The latest started on April 1 at 12 different locations across the greater Washington D.C. area and is being delivered by a dedicated team of JTCC staff with support from current JTCC high performance program players and coaches.
At the conclusion of every session, 25-30 new tennis players who are identified as having potential and a strong work ethic are invited to ‘Phase 2’ classes at JTCC. Phase 2 takes places on Sundays at JTCC and marks the first step for the participants on JTCC’s college pathway. JTCC continues to support these children through Phase 2 programming and then as they join JTCC’s regular ROGY classes by offering financial aid on a case-by-case basis after independent 3rd party vetting. The ultimate goal is for the players to graduate from JTCC having earned an athletic scholarship to a leading Division I school.
One of the most notable graduates from Game On! is 14-year-old Robin Montgomery. She started playing tennis as part of the program at the age of six and today is ranked in the top 60 in the junior ITF world rankings. Montgomery also won the USTA National Girls’ 14U Hard Court title as a 12-year-old in 2017 and was a finalist in the 2019 Easter Bowl. JTCC places a significant emphasis on giving back and requires current high performance student-athletes to commit to 30 hours of volunteering each year. They serve as mentors for the players learning the sport for the first time as part of GEICO Game On! and Sandy Spring Bank Advantage Prince George’s. This is very impactful on both sides and leads to many lasting friendships.
“JTCC is a place committed to changing the lives of young people through tennis”, said Annessa Tayor, JTCC’s Community Outreach Manager. “We are so grateful to GEICO and Sandy Spring Bank for their support in helping us grow the game and make a real difference in the community.”
Please contact Annessa Taylor at ataylor@jtcc.org to learn more or to volunteer
