Legacy Youth Tennis and Education Receives $10,000 from Citizens Bank for After-School Program in Camden

Press release provided by Legacy Youth Tennis to Patch.

Legacy Youth Tennis and Education (formerly known as Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education) announced today that it has received $10,000 from Citizens Bank to help underwrite after-school tennis and education programs in three schools in Camden. The money, in addition to funds from other donors, will support after-school programs at Camden’s Cooper’s Poynt Elementary School, R.C. Molina Elementary, and Pyne Poynt Middle School. A total of 300 students will benefit from the after-school programs that run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“Because its programs have a positive effect on shaping the lives of potentially at-risk children, Citizens Bank has a strong, ongoing partnership with Legacy Youth Tennis and Education,” said Henri G. Moore, senior vice president and director of public affairs for Citizens Bank and a member of the Legacy Board of Directors. “The funds will help keep unsupervised children off the streets  four afternoons every week throughout the school year and focus their energies on homework and learning the great sport of tennis.”

“We’re grateful for the ongoing participation and contributions from Citizens Bank,” said Kenny Holdsman, President of Legacy Youth Tennis and Education. “We’ve reached many more children in recent years in large part because of Citizens Bank’s financial support. Our students are getting the chance to develop not only as student-athletes, but also as leaders and good citizens.”

Legacy has served young people in Camden for 20 years and will work with Rutgers University – Camden and Camden City schools to deliver this programming.  The money from Citizens Bank will help subsidize funds that Rutgers University recently won through a 21st Century federal grant.  The goal of the program is to provide low-income children with the skills that are required to improve themselves both on and off the tennis court. The partners seek to create a positive and safe space for children to build their cardiovascular capacity, strengthen their academic and athletic achievement and develop a lifelong love of tennis. The program aims to lower the body-mass index in 90 percent of the program participants, while maintaining student attendance at 70 percent.

Family health and tennis nights are held monthly to introduce parents to the game of tennis. In addition to watching their children play, parents are encouraged to pick up a racquet. Parents also learn about the benefits of physical exercise and the emotional discipline that organized sports, such as tennis, can provide.