The Atlanta Youth Tennis and Education Foundation, based out of Fair Oaks Tennis Center, was recently named the National Junior Tennis League Chapter of the Year by the United States Tennis Association - Georgia. The NJTL Chapter of the Year criteria include: quality of on-court program, quality of management structure, involvement with other community organizations such as Schools, Parks, YMCA, YWCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, PALs, Boy/Girl Scouts, etc., support of the local business community and demonstration of financial sustainability.

AYTEF has been based at Fair Oaks Tennis Center for the past 2 years. The program offers low-cost and free tennis and education programs for youth in grades K-8. AYTEF has grown tremendously in the past year, and in 2023 plans to offer additional programming for high school students. AYTEF's Block Party is a free community outreach event with pizza, tennis, and games offered each month. AYTEF's low-cost programs include GameSetMatch, Summer Tennis Camp, and STEM Learning Labs. Over the past 12 months, AYTEF has provided 345 hours of tennis instruction and 269 hours of character development and academic enrichment to 251 youth. Through their core program, GameSetMatch, AYTEF delivered 48 weeks of low-cost tennis, academic, and life-skills curriculum.

Research has found that youth who participate in after school and summer programs like the ones AYTEF provide see positive gains in their academics, health, attitude, and life skills. 82% of the GameSetMatch participants who participate in life-skills curriculum and academic enrichment say the program has helped them to think more positively both on and off the court. AYTEF believes that the powerful combination of tennis and education can change lives!

For more information on AYTEF, please see their website. Congratulations to AYTEF for their contributions to the tennis community and to Cobb County!