The U.S. Open is a money machine that's owned by a not-for-profit organization, the U.S. Tennis Association. In addition to running the world's biggest annual sporting event, it also runs pro, amateur and junior tournaments and recreational programs.

While the headquarters is located in White Plains, N.Y., 17 regional sections and 50 state associations promote the sport locally, and support thousands of independent community tennis associations. The profits from the U.S. Open, sponsors and individual donors fund the far-reaching work. The benefits are very real and impacting; at the local level, the funding enables tennis to be offered in the schools and latch-key kids to have an after-school program, among other benefits.

But you knew that.

What you may not know is that the USTA underwrites a philanthropic foundation--USTA Tennis & Education Foundation--that enables people in underserved communities to live better. The USTA covers administrative and operational costs so virtually 100 percent of donations by corporate sponsors and individual donors are dispersed to those in need.

It sounds bigger than tennis and, yes, it is, but its roots are in the game.

Q. What does the Foundation do exactly?
A. We help children develop into healthy, educated, and productive members of their communities. Tennis is the hook. We enhance what the USTA started in the grassroots and community tennis divisions. It would be impossible for them to reach every nook and cranny.

Q. Does the tennis-education connection work?
A. We do feel we're changing lives and helping kids and families become engaged in the sport and, most importantly, keeping them off the street.
     Tennis is a very level playing field. When you're on the court, no one knows what your background is. You have to interact socially and make judgements: Was the ball in or out?
    It's a great platform for learning life skills.

Q. In the last year you have awarded $1 million in programs grants and $400,000 to schools. How is this money being used?
A. The programs we fund do more than promote tennis. We encourage life skills and how to be a productive member of society. That could mean providing homework tutors, access to computers, nutrition education and diabetes testing; in many of these communities there's limited access to healthcare and other services.
   We award college scholarships for high school seniors, and it's very competitive. Students must have good grades and SAT scores, participate in a tennis program, perform community service and demonstrate financial need. So we're looking for all-around kids who are exemplary, and can show financial need and want to go college. MassMutual sponsored the scholarship for three years. We are always looking for corporate sponsors and we're very happy to name a scholarship for a company.

Q. Who funds the foundation?
A. We have a staff of four and the USTA underwrites our operations. We accept money from individuals and corporations, some of which are USTA sponsors. That was the case with MassMutual, a sponsor of the U.S. Open. We were able to work with that company through the MassMutual Foundation. Another initiative is done with the USTA diversity department. DEUCE (Disparity Elimination Using Care and Exercise), for disadvantaged communities with little or no healthcare. Aetna is the sponsor.   We also run events during the U.S. Open--including a gala, a pro-am (which has included Mary Joe Fernandez, Tom Gullikson, Stan Smith and others), afternoon events, and the "Avenue of Aces" with bricks and plaques of the names of donors who gave anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000. And we just added online giving.
   This U.S. Open is important for us, but we operate 12 months of the year. We really want to keep the momentum going so we are having a theater benefit on May 7. It includes dinner at Sardi's, a real New York landmark, and orchestra seats at "The Country Girl." There's a great cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher. Sardi's is giving us a special treat with a presentation about the caricatures that line the walls of the restaurant. It's going to be a great night. (Click for details)

Q. You're a lifelong recreational tennis player whose career has been spent in education administration and social services for at-risk children and families. This position seems to marry your interests in a rewarding position. How did you become involved?
A. A board member approached me about the position and I found it intriguing. It whet my appetite. I was fascinated by what the USTA wanted to do. They were a very successful organization that wanted to reach out so people would know tennis was more than country club and elite sport--and they wanted to do the right thing.
   It's extremely gratifying. The concept of "not-for-profit" is a very rewarding experience. You're there for social investment; the stability of families and children and communities. People have to be healthy. I value education tremendously. It sounds trite, but the children are this country's future. It's a win-win.
   Right now the foundation is going through a major strategic planning process. Changes are on the horizon. We finished with the startup period and now we're focusing on strategies to engage donors and communicating so people understand why we are here.

Q. There are more than 900 tennis organizations seeking funding through NetworkForGood.org. Are you afraid they might view the foundation as competition for funding?
A. We want to create collaborations with others and disperse money. It's not used to fill the coffers of the USTA or to be used to fund their programs. And now when someone donates online, they have the choice of specifying it to support the foundations of their own USTA sections. This is philanthropy at its greatest. It's one of the best stories of the USTA.

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