Tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe (left) along with Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation former Board President Herb Shultz at Central Park in Schenectady, New York, speaking during a 15-LOVE event (June, 1990). Listen to Arthur Ashe’s 1990 speech during a 15-LOVE event in Albany, New York
HISTORY
The 15-LOVE Program has successfully completed 30 years of programming in the Capital Region. What was merely a dream (of reaching out in positive ways to inner-city youth) in June 1990, has indeed become a reality.
The late Arthur Ashe was instrumental in helping found the 15-LOVE Program. He himself got his start on public courts. His philosophy and ours is to “use tennis to teach the game of life.”
15-LOVE operates independently in NY’s Capital Region, and is a member of the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. 15-LOVE is focused upon the whole child, striving to make an impact that lasts a lifetime. It is a program of prevention.
We operate throughout the Capital Region, with special emphasis on the inner cities of Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Rensselaer. The program runs year-round, impacting more than 50,000 youth and their families throughout our history.
OUR MISSION
To reach out in a loving, caring way to youth of the Capital Region, using tennis as the medium, especially those in the inner cities
OPERATING THEMES
Within the overall mission, the following seven themes are emphasized:
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- Stress education
- Promote good health (both emotional and physical)
- Instill positive values
- Foster multi-cultural relationships
- Encourage good sportsmanship
- Support families
- Give back in the community
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT
“15-LOVE stands WITH the causes of anti-racism and anti-discrimination of all kinds, and FOR social justice and economic justice in our communities.”
Celebrating 25 Years!
Enjoy 15-LOVE’s promotional video, created by Ken Deyoe in honor of our 25th Anniversary. Here’s to 25 more years!
