Game, Set, Match! NYC Children Participate in Third Year of CISNY/NYJTL Summer Reading & Tennis Program

Summer 2003

Students display certificates at the Linden Park Reading Club Awards Ceremony on August 20, 2003.

This summer  marks the third year that Communities in Schools, New York, Inc. (CISNY) has worked with the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) to offer Summer Reading & Tennis Clubs to New York City public school children.  Through the assistance of Emigrant Savings Bank's Building the Future, One Life at a Time program, over 1600 children at 59 sites across the city were able to participate in the program this summer.

Current research indicates that a summer away from school leads to a diminution of academic skills, especially for young readers who are working on their literacy skills.  By providing a fun and educational summer experience, CISNY and the NYJTL hope to prevent this loss of academic skills while encouraging students to develop a love of reading.

Starting on July 5, reading coordinators Catha Fogelberg, Brennan Guillory, Jennifer Hayford, and Venecia Stevenson provided literacy sessions to students at each site. These sessions included book discussions, literacy  instruction and quiet reading time.  At the end of the program, the coordinators distributed all of the books to students for their own use at home and helped students to apply for membership at local public libraries.

Members of the Mullally Park Reading & Tennis Club during their end-of-summer Awards Ceremony in the Bronx, near Yankee Stadium

Over the course of the summer, the Reading & Tennis Clubs distributed 200 gold medals, 458 silver medals and 789 bronze medals to avid summer readers.  

All children received certificates attesting to their participation in the 2003 Reading Clubs.

At the end of the summer, the 59 Reading & Tennis Clubs participated in the August 16th NYJTL Kids' Day Parade at Crotona Park, Queens.  Many children also attended the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day on August 23rd at the USTA Center in Flushing.

The partnership between CISNY and the NYJTL came about during the summer of 2001, when the two organizations tested approaches that would strengthen the NYJTL's required reading clubs.  CISNY supplied books, materials, and training for reading coordinators to work at seven designated sites.  The assessment regarding this initial literacy venture was glowing.  Students who participated were enthusiastic about the program, as were their parents.  The students, aged 7 to 14, eagerly awaited their reading coaches each week. 

Founded by Arthur Ashe in 1970, the NYJTL provides free tennis programs for tens of thousands of New York City youngsters throughout the year. The NYJTL is the largest provider of free tennis programs to New York City youngsters and the only one in the city that combines tennis instruction with academic, social and youth development activities.   The NYJTL has revolutionized the   sport    by making tennis a real possibility for every city youngster no matter what his or her economic or ethnic background.

The Summer Reading & Tennis Program would not have been possible without the support of Emigrant Savings Bank, the efforts of our dedicated tennis and literacy instructors, as well as staff members Andre Coombs, Barbara Leacock and John Odom of the NYJTL, and Stephen Menchini of CISNY.

The GHI Kids' Day Parade August 16, 2003

On Saturday, August 16, members of the CISNY/NYJTL Reading & Tennis Clubs participated in the Kids' Day Parade.  The event was part of the GHI Challenger Tournament, a professional tennis event that attracts Pros seeking to qualify for the US Open with a top prize of $50,000.

Accompanied by a booming drum corps, children paraded into Crotona Park at the event's opening. Displaying self-created site banners, the 59 Reading & Tennis Clubs paraded and competed in the NYJTL banner context. 

Following the parade, NYJTL Educational Services staff, reading coordinators, and Emigrant Bank volunteers operated a Reading Village tent.  At the Reading Village tent, kids were able to select books to keep from a great variety of free books that were available.  They also received free soda donated through Songmasters, a public relations firm. In addition the kids took part in a free tennis carnival, tested their physical prowess in a fitness tent and had lunch courtesy of the NYC Department of Education.

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day - August 23, 2003

Many of the CISNY/NYJTL Summer Reading & Tennis Clubs participated in the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing on Saturday, August 23.  The eighth annual day-long festival of kids' tennis activities included interactive games, musical entertainment, free clinics and the World TeamTennis finals.  Arthur Ashe Kids' Day is the official kick- off event for the US Open that runs August 25 - September 7.  The event celebrates the successful completion of the summer program and the ideals of Arthur Ashe.  It benefits several youth-oriented charities and USA Tennis NJTL (National Junior Tennis League), a program founded by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder in 1969 to provide tennis opportunities to economically disadvantaged youngsters.

Thank you...