By Cameron Turner, ALTA Foundation President
Each year, because of your generous donations, the ALTA Foundation can deliver high-quality programs that make a real difference in our community. Through grants and scholarships, we provide access to tennis and pickleball for underserved populations, Title 1 schools, and high school seniors pursuing higher education.
Programmatic Grants: Changing Lives Through Tennis and Pickleball
ALTA Foundation grants are awarded year-round to nonprofits that bring tennis and pickleball to special populations. Thanks to your contributions, in 2024 alone, we’ve supported 18 organizations with over $62,000 in funding to create impactful programs. Here are just a few of the initiatives you’ve helped make possible:
- Shepherd Center: Adaptive tennis and pickleball clinics for individuals with disabilities.
- Special Olympics of Georgia: Sponsorship of the Summer Games, where over 200 athletes competed in the tennis event.
- Center for Movement Challenges: Pickleball clinics for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
- Keeping Pace, a program of Pace Academy: Summer clinics for Title 1 students in partnership with LaAmistad.
- Henry First: Hosts the American Wheelchair Championships every fall.
These are just a few examples of the incredible work your donations support, creating opportunities for all to enjoy the benefits of tennis and pickleball.
Scholarships: Empowering the Next Generation
The L. Keith Wood Scholarship program is another way your donations are changing lives. This year, eight outstanding high school seniors received $2,500 scholarships to help with tuition. These students are role models in academic excellence, community service, and ALTA league tennis participation. In total, we awarded $20,000 in scholarship funding in 2024, and we’re excited to increase this in the coming years!
Expanding Opportunities for Title 1 Schools
Through the START Program, we’re supporting tennis programs at Title 1 schools across metro Atlanta. During the spring 2024 high school tennis season, your support helped us fund 10 schools with over $25,000. But we’re not stopping there. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re aiming to grow the program by 60 percent, reaching even more schools and expanding opportunities for students who might not otherwise have access to tennis.
How You Can Continue to Make a Difference
As we enter the final quarter of the year, many families begin considering their year-end giving. With most ALTA members renewing their memberships in November and December, this is the perfect time to make an additional donation to the ALTA Foundation. Every contribution helps us continue this important work. Here’s how your gift can make an impact:
- $800 can provide a new ball machine for a Title 1 high school.
- $450 can cover the coaching fees for three wheelchair clinics.
- $150 can supply 10 racquets for underserved youth who lack access to equipment.
- $50 can provide a tennis uniform for a Title 1 high school student.
- $30 can purchase indoor pickleball balls for Parkinson’s players.
Thank You for Your Ongoing Support
Your generosity is at the heart of everything we do. Together, we’re promoting health, character, and sportsmanship across the greater Atlanta area. Every month, your donations are making a difference — and we couldn’t do it without YOU.
To make a donation, please scan the QR code below or visit altatennis.org/AltaFoundation.aspx and scroll down to the green DONATE button. If you would like to make a year-end donation through your donor advised fund or by check, please contact Cameron Turner at foundationpresident@altatennis.org. You can also add on a donation when you renew your membership for 2025!
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Meet your 2025 ALTA Executive Committee
We’re sending out big congratulations to the list of nominees for the 2025 Executive Committee, which was recently approved by the ALTA Board of Directors. They are as follows:
President (not included in the vote) Rita Maloof
First Vice President—Loretta Phillips
Secretary—Keri Beck
Treasurer—Susan Levin
Men’s League Vice President—Drew Meyer
Thursday Women’s League Vice President—Siobhan Schaeffer
Sunday Women’s League Vice President—Diane Royston
Senior Leagues Vice President—Seth Appelbaum
Senior Day Leagues Vice President—Rusty Jones
Mixed Doubles League Vice President—David Rowe
Junior League Vice President—Kim Freeman
Pickleball League Vice President—Greg McAfee
Events and Tournaments Vice President—Carol Brasher
Junior Challenge Ladder Vice President—Gina Woods
Special Programs Vice President—Mark LaRotonda
Volunteers have always been the backbone of the ALTA organization, which is led by and includes the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. The officers are voted on by the general membership at the 2024 ALTA Annual Meeting.
2024 ALTA Annual Meeting
Date: November 14
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: The Atlanta Athletic Club
1930 Bobby Jones Dr.
Johns Creek, GA 30097
The agenda will include discussion on items set forth in ALTA’s bylaws, in addition to the minutes from the last EC meeting in November. The meeting is led by 2024 ALTA Board Chairman Debbie Gaster, who will deliver her Chairman’s Report and will also include the Treasurer’s Report from Susan Levin, the President’s Report from Chequetta Allen, a report from the 2025 ALTA President Rita Maloof, and other ALTA league business.
Members in good standing are entitled to send in write-in nominees which must be received in writing at the ALTA office by Nov. 10, 2024.
