Buffalo PAL to Host Youth Achievement Awards Ceremony at Love to Serve Tennis Program
Who: Mayor Byron W. Brown, PAL Executive Director Nekia Kemp, US Tennis Association Eastern Director of Innovation and Engagement Lynn Buffamonti, and VP of Community Affairs at Highmark BCBS OF Western NY, Mike Ball.
What: The Police Athletic League of Buffalo (PAL) will host an awards ceremony to close out the Love to Serve tennis summer program. Youth who participated in this year's program will play tennis and enjoy pizza, fun, and gifts from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. This year's awards ceremony will acknowledge the hard work of 13 participating youth and honor the memory of the late Natalie Lewis, a former PAL coach for whom the program is named, and the late Earl Thomkins, a former director for the PAL tennis program.
Why: For six weeks, 196 youth ages 8 to 18 learned how to play tennis by USTA certified coaches. Students attended the program at Delaware Park McMillian Courts and Hennepin Park tennis courts. The Love to Serve program promoted physical activity and agility among youth. The USTA says that youth who play tennis are less likely to indulge in risky behaviors like smoking and drinking, and they have higher self-esteem. Today, tennis participation has seen dramatic growth among diverse populations. According to the Tennis Industry Association’s 2024 U.S. Tennis Participation Report, the game of tennis grew by an additional 250,000 new players across age (6+) and racial demographics in 2023. That means that 1 in every 13 Americans age 6+ played at least once.
Where: McMillian Tennis Courts at Delaware Park (at Nottingham Terrace near NY 198 Expressway)
When: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 11 a.m.