Tennis, Everyone? Initiative Serves Inner-City Youth
Expanding a health initiative to increase physical activity among at-risk children
The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation expanded its programming to introduce at-risk inner city children to health-promoting behaviors such as good nutrition, physical conditioning and avoidance of drugs and alcohol.
The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF) is a non-profit institution in Washington that works to improve the life prospects of inner-city children through tennis, education and life skills programs.
Key Results
Under the grant, WTEF accomplished the following:
- Formed a partnership with the D.C. Asthma Coalition that led to workshops for 100 children and parents on asthma and how to treat it.
- Provided seminars on health issues such as nutrition, physical conditioning, sports medicine and podiatry.
- Provided healthier snacks to emphasize healthy eating habits.
- Helped school weave health lessons into a "Values Skits" annual competition. Topics included saying "no" to drugs and alcohol and eating a balanced diet.
- Brought in the United States Tennis Association to give a training and physical fitness workshop for WTEF coaches and advanced players.
- Provided a 10-week science session focusing on the human body for 60 students.
Funding
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) provided a grant of $50,000 from June 2002 through June 2003 to fund the initiative.