Blazing A Trail For Youth And Veterans

BY RITA MALOOF, ALTA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

For the third consecutive year, the ALTA Foundation is excited to partner with BlazeSports America as it continues to grow and expand adaptive tennis in the metro area. With funding from the foundation, tennis was added to BlazeSports program offerings in 2021.

BlazeSports America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is the legacy organization of the 1996 Paralympic Games held in Atlanta. These games, the first held on American soil, were the realization of the dreams of thousands of Americans involved in the growth and promotion of sports for persons with physical disabilities in the United States.

BlazeSports provides a variety of sport and recreation programs for kids and teens who have physical challenges. Athletes receive training, support, and the opportunity to increase independence and improve health. BlazeSports’ current youth programs include wheelchair basketball, adaptive track and field, adaptive swimming, and wheelchair tennis.

BlazeSports also provides veterans with PTSD/PTS, physical disabilities and injured active-duty service members with opportunities to become active and healthy throughout the year. BlazeSports current veterans’ adaptive programs include archery, cycling, water aerobics, cross fit, rowing, yoga, bowling, pickleball, and tennis.

During the spring and summer, weekly tennis clinics are held on Thursdays at Hudlow Tennis Center to expose youth with physical disabilities to wheelchair tennis and to develop both new and experienced veteran tennis players. These clinics are free to the athlete and help participants meet the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week. Veterans start play at 5:00 p.m., followed by the wheelchair youth at 6:30 p.m. Since the inception of tennis, participation in these clinics has more than tripled! An annual tennis tournament for Wheelchair Tennis and Veteran Tennis also is held to increase exposure and opportunities to play tennis for the adaptive communities.

BlazeSports America is committed to changing lives through sports and recreation, training, and education. According to Executive Director Dawn Churi, “Our goal is to provide an adaptive tennis program where the opportunities to play are equal to those without disabilities. We see first-hand the incredibly positive impact adaptive sports can make for people with physical disabilities on and off the field of play.”

Focused on building stronger communities, the Foundation supports the growth of tennis in underserved populations in the Atlanta area. The generosity of our ALTA members make it all possible. All donations are appreciated and can be made online on the ALTA website, by scanning the QR code, at the time of membership renewal, or by mail to the ALTA office. For inquiries on stock gifts, in memorandum gifts, or establishing a scholarship, contact Rita Maloof, 2023 ALTA Foundation president at foundationpresident@ altatennis.org, or 770.399.5788 ext. 126.

Net News Photo Contest Celebrates 20 Years!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ALTA photo contest, we have added a special category to commemorate this milestone. Please send in your favorite ALTA tennis anniversary photo. No wedding photos please. Maybe it’s a photo with your multiple ALTA Championship plates or an old photo of your team/captain who has been playing ALTA for 20 years or more. Details to enter are on page 34.

Prizes courtesy of