QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia, Inc. (QCV) is pleased to report a group of 18 local tennis enthusiasts has met to begin formation of the Southside Area Tennis Association (SATA).
This all-volunteer, non-profit Community Tennis Association (CTA) will serve youth and adults in Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick counties and the cities of Danville and Martinsville. The inaugural meeting and a fun tennis hit-around were held at the indoor courts at Chatmoss Country Club in Martinsville.
Jennifer Bowles, one of SATA’s founding members, said, “Being part of a team and having a support system helps children develop their character and leadership skills. We want every child in MHC and surrounding areas to have access to tennis and a chance to play the game.
“Playing sports helped mold me into the person I am today and was very impactful. I am thankful for the opportunity to be with like-minded individuals who share the same values. I am excited for this organization to continue to grow.”
QCV QuickStart Coordinator Lynda Harrill, added, “When I was instrumental in founding QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia eight years ago, I always intended to work my way out of a job by getting local communities to start their own community tennis associations, offer programming and engage in a lot of community outreach activities.
“Having tennis boosters in Southside Virginia step-up to form SATA is just wonderful. One of QCV’s main goals is to serve as a catalyst, facilitator and resource for formerly underserved communities in central and Southside Virginia. We help people start tennis programs by training, equipping and supporting. Helping organize our first local CTA is a game-changer and will serve as a model for other communities. Kids and adults in these three counties and two cities are going to be the immediate beneficiaries.”
QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia is an all-volunteer, grassroots Community Tennis Association established in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to promote, develop and grow QuickStart Tennis in the heart of Virginia for all beginners, especially underserved youth, using the kid-sized QuickStart Tennis format.
QCV’s service area includes Albemarle, Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Fluvanna, Franklin, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Nelson, Nottoway, Orange, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Powhatan and Rappahannock counties and the cities of Charlottesville, Danville and Martinsville.
It currently serves 204 schools with 94,000 kids, 13 parks and recreation departments, three Boys and Girls Clubs and two YMCAs in 27 counties and three independent cities. The organization has also gotten tennis into PE classes in 30 additional schools with 14,000 students in southwestern and eastern central Virginia as part of the Mid-Atlantic Supercharge School Tennis Task Force.
Visit QCV at: www.quickstartcentral.org and on Facebook.
For additional information, contact quickstartcentral@comcast.net
