Philanthropy Update

Members! We need your input. NWTO's current and prospective Co-presidents and Board have created a subcommittee to explore and suggest options for NWTO to create and sustain a charitable program over time. The Committee includes Board members Christine Grant, Lois Harris and Karin Weiner. The working premise is that initial modest financial support could be directed annually to existing programs which focus on teaching tennis skills, but also impart life skills, leadership, and a sense of community. Priority interest is in existing programs which focus on low income youth through high school and which demonstrate significant involvement of youth of color and girls. At this point, the committee is gathering both examples of such programs around the country to assemble a briefing book and to suggest how modest funding by NWTO may be helpful. Some members have already shared information about smaller scaled programs created by family charities, so don't feel constrained to thinking only about large programs.

We need and welcome information from members describing programs they know of and respect. We intend to have first drafts of a briefing book in September, so please send on information now as you are thinking about the subject or as an interesting article crosses your screen. Please include website addresses where we can find descriptive material and/or your description and opinion of strengths and cautionary experiences with such programs. Pictures describing the program are welcome.

Please send to: christine.grant@gmail.com or loisharris@comcast.net