Mission Statement
Our mission is to prepare young people, especially those from under-resourced families and communities, for success as individuals and as active, responsible citizens through innovative tennis, education, life skills, and leadership development programming.
History
In 1952, William J. Clothier, II founded the Philadelphia Tennis Patrons Association which was merged with the Philadelphia National Junior Tennis League 44 years later to become Philadelphia Youth Tennis. In 2003, Philadelphia Youth Tennis became Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education; a leader 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Three years later, the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center located in East Falls was constructed as a premiere facility dedicated to innovative youth tennis and education programming. In 2012, the organization became Legacy Youth Tennis and Education.
Today we provide high quality tennis instruction by experienced instructors, educational programming, and positive opportunities to more than 4,500 children annually, most of whom participate at little or no cost through our indoor after-school and community programs and the National Junior Tennis and Learning’s outdoor summer program. Using tennis as the primary motivator, the programs teach positive, rewarding lessons, build confidence, and provide a framework of personal discipline
Legacy Youth Tennis and Education Programming
Our organization has a deep rooted history and tradition in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia and Camden. We stand on the shoulders of so many devoted individuals and families who comprise the multi-textured fabric of who we are and what we do. These people provide us with inspiration and guidance for empowering young people, especially those who come from families and communities lacking in resources and opportunities. One of these individuals is the great Arthur Ashe. Arthur Ashe’s legacy is a rich one and includes extraordinary tennis achievements, breaking racial barriers in an overwhelmingly white tennis community and serving as an active, engaged citizen deeply involved in the issues of the day. This remarkable man has served as a model and beacon around which we have been actively building out programming for helping young people grow as individuals and as caring, responsible, and active citizens. We are building and expanding on our programming to reflect Arthur’s life and legacy, as well as many local pioneers who have helped us blaze a trail with and for the young people we serve.
Legacy Youth Tennis and Education currently operates various programs both in communities in and around greater Philadelphia, and at our campus center in East Falls.
Youth Leadership
The Goodstein Junior Leadership initiative is a vital part of our organization and the wider community. The young leaders in this program are actively involved in homelessness and hunger relief, literacy and tennis instruction with young Legacy participants, recycling and environmental awareness. The young participants are fully involved in key aspects of the organization, including low-dollar fundraising and many facets of program-planning and design, and low-dollar fundraising support. In many ways, they have become the standard-bearers for what Arthur Ashe himself saw as the fundamental mission of our organization – providing opportunities for young people to become active, engaged citizens in the broader community.