WASHINGTON D.C.'S CORA MASTERS BARRY HONORED BY USTA WITH NJTL FOUNDERS' SERVICE AWARD

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March, 16, 2016 – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that Cora Masters Barry of Washington. D.C., was presented with the USTA Foundation National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Founders’ Service Award. Barry was recognized for her outstanding contribution to helping grow tennis at the local level during an awards banquet at the USTA Annual Meeting and Conference, March 11-14, at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

In 2001, Barry started the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (SETLC), the first of its kind in Washington, D.C., and a prototype for the nation. Recognizing the importance of both sports and education, the SETLC carries the motto, “tennis is the hook, but education is the key,” and provides a variety of programs to thousands of under-resourced children during after-school hours. Programs include tennis, technology center, academic tutoring, mentoring, SAT prep, chess, and a Sew & Know Entrepreneur program.

In 2005, the SETLC was named “Youth Tennis and Learning Facility” of the year by the USTA and honored that year at the US Open.

In addition, for the past seven years, Masters Barry has been the visionary behind the SETLC’s annual living history program. The program is sponsored by Barry’s organization, Blacks in Wax, which features more than 70 youth at the world-renowned John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and in the SETLC community. Blacks in Wax portrays historical African-American icons such as Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson and Venus and Serena Williams.

“For so many years, Cora Masters Barry has exemplified true leadership in the sport of tennis,” said Dan Faber, Executive Director, USTA Foundation. “We applaud her dedication to providing kids the opportunity to succeed in tennis and academics while encouraging them to understand the importance of positive life skills.”

Established in 2010, the NJTL Founders award was created to recognize an individual who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to positive youth development through tennis and education, delivers outstanding service to under-resourced children with free or low-cost tennis, and provides education and life-skills programming. The award is given to those best reflecting the values of NJTL founders Arthur Ashe, Charles Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder.

The USTA Annual Meeting and Conference brings together USTA leadership, national staff, national committee members and section volunteers and staff in pursuit of the USTA mission: to promote and develop the growth of tennis. Along with leadership and committee meetings, the Annual Meeting provides educational opportunities for all attendees to develop and enhance their personal and professional skills and learn new ways to promote the game of tennis.

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking eight summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.