At Tennis Central, we promote and develop the sport of tennis in Lancaster County by offering programs that teach life skills through a lifetime sport that emphasize the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork and provide opportunities for competition.
Tennis Central offers a variety of tennis programs for children ages 6 to 18. Additionally, we sponsor USTA sanctioned junior tournaments in age groups: 12,14,16, & 18, Junior Team Tennis Leagues, Early Development Camps, High School Sunday Nights Live and many other programs.
As a non-profit organization, Tennis Central is unique in that we have an all-volunteer Board of Directors, have no membership dues, and rely on grants, donations, and fees for revenue. The contributions of time, in-kind and financial generosity of the Lancaster community and organizations at large assist us in serving under-resourced children in our programs. We are grateful for this support throughout our 30+ years of service to promote and grow tennis in Lancaster, PA.
Tennis Central, along with our community partners, provides year-round educational, instructional and competitive programs for thousands of youth. The majority of the programs are provided at minimal or no cost ensuring access for everyone. Youth from all social and economic backgrounds are encouraged to take part in our programs. In addition, Tennis Central provides community service, leadership, and employment opportunities to high school youth as well as thousands of dollars in college scholarships each year.
Tennis Central is nationally recognized by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Foundation as a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Chapter. The support of the USTA Foundation, whose mission is to bring tennis and education together to change lives, enriches our programs and allows us to better serve our local community.
History:
Tennis Central, formerly Lancaster Tennis Patrons Association, Inc. began as a grassroots organization in 1972. Initially, it was organized as the Lancaster Gold Cup, by Judy Levering and Keith Kendig. They created a junior development program for boys and girls 12 to 14 years old. In 1975, the name was changed to the Lancaster Tennis Patrons Cup. By 1980, the committee expanded and local tournaments were organized. From these beginnings, in 1982 Lancaster Tennis Patrons Association, Inc. (LTPA) was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation.
The Board of Tennis Central consists of twelve (12) members: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and eight (8) Board members at large. All members of the Board, including the officers are volunteers.
Vision:
A healthy community enriched by the lifetime sport of tennis.
Mission:
Serving up opportunities to strengthen the community through tennis & education.
Core Values:
- Build character & confidence through tennis & education
- Teach lifetime skills through a lifetime sport
- Form partnerships that optimize community resources
- Foster a diverse and inclusive environment that emphasizes healthy competition
- Make tennis available to everyone