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| Prince George's County Tennis & Education Foundation |
PGTEF
| Prince George's County, MARYLAND 240-460-5741 |
| WHUR's popular radio host and Friend of PGTEF, Michael Baisden along with tennis great Zina Garrison thrilled PGTEF program participants with a recent appearance at the Watkins Park Tennis Bubble. |
| LEARNING FROM A LEGEND |
| BRENDA GILMORE - MAKING A DIFFERENCE PGTEF Gets International Exposure in Voice of America Video |
PGTEF NEWS
| Article of Interest featuring PGTEF: Helping youth with disabilities to LEAP through transitions |
Since 1993, Prince George's County Tennis &
Education Foundation in the suburbs of
Washington D.C. has taught each child and parent
who walks through its doors that pledging
allegiance to the "four C's" will lead to A-plus kids.
The “four C’s” of consistency in work ethic,
confidence in ability, control of attitude and
commitment to excellence aim to produce kids
who will work harder than all others when playing
the game, attend college and be leaders in their
communities.
It is an ethos exemplified by an 18 & Under
Intermediate Team that competed at the USTA
Junior Team Tennis National Championship last
October in Mobile, Alabama, and were considered
a most remarkable group: not because of where
they finished - 14th out of 15 teams - but how.
"The kids walked away from the experience
disappointed, but inspired," said coach Zach
Tobias, who, like his kids, himself grew up in the
program from the age of 10 as a beginner and
went on to become a scholarship player for
Temple University. "The team received a lot of
compliments from the other coaches and parents
there, and I let them know. The consensus was that
our team was the most fit of them all, and we were
the most supportive of one another. Even after the
losses, the kids would stay right there, smiles and
loud cheers, by the court for the next teammate
until the very last match."
“Our kids represented themselves and Prince
George's with great pride, and that was the
expectation,” he added. “As the only all-black
team participating many times, we impress upon
them that when you compete anywhere, you're
representing our Foundation."
Comprised almost entirely of African-American
leadership, coaches, and participants, Prince
George's is a year-round NJTL outfit that places
special emphasis on mentoring and educational
assistance, in addition to tennis instruction for all
levels. As they reach high school and want to
participate in the organization's High Performance
program, kids are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA
or better and to donate two hours per week to
community service, in addition to honing their
tennis skills.
Education Foundation in the suburbs of
Washington D.C. has taught each child and parent
who walks through its doors that pledging
allegiance to the "four C's" will lead to A-plus kids.
The “four C’s” of consistency in work ethic,
confidence in ability, control of attitude and
commitment to excellence aim to produce kids
who will work harder than all others when playing
the game, attend college and be leaders in their
communities.
It is an ethos exemplified by an 18 & Under
Intermediate Team that competed at the USTA
Junior Team Tennis National Championship last
October in Mobile, Alabama, and were considered
a most remarkable group: not because of where
they finished - 14th out of 15 teams - but how.
"The kids walked away from the experience
disappointed, but inspired," said coach Zach
Tobias, who, like his kids, himself grew up in the
program from the age of 10 as a beginner and
went on to become a scholarship player for
Temple University. "The team received a lot of
compliments from the other coaches and parents
there, and I let them know. The consensus was that
our team was the most fit of them all, and we were
the most supportive of one another. Even after the
losses, the kids would stay right there, smiles and
loud cheers, by the court for the next teammate
until the very last match."
“Our kids represented themselves and Prince
George's with great pride, and that was the
expectation,” he added. “As the only all-black
team participating many times, we impress upon
them that when you compete anywhere, you're
representing our Foundation."
Comprised almost entirely of African-American
leadership, coaches, and participants, Prince
George's is a year-round NJTL outfit that places
special emphasis on mentoring and educational
assistance, in addition to tennis instruction for all
levels. As they reach high school and want to
participate in the organization's High Performance
program, kids are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA
or better and to donate two hours per week to
community service, in addition to honing their
tennis skills.
Prince George's County Tennis & Education
Foundation Continues to Inspire Kids
By Nicholas J. Walz, USTA.com
Foundation Continues to Inspire Kids
By Nicholas J. Walz, USTA.com
As part of their “Summer Enrichment” initiative, a large group of participants from the NJTL
spend classroom time in developing essays and artwork for the annual Arthur Ashe Essay
Contest. In 2009, PGTEF product Edward Harding III won the national prize for outstanding
essay in the Boys’ 15/16 age division and earned the trip to New York City and the US Open.
The strong work ethic and disciplined training habits of all the Prince George's kids can
largely be attributed to the influence of Brenda Gilmore, who has led the charge for over 15
years for the PGTEF and today serves as its Executive Director. Gilmore has also been
involved intricately with the USTA over the years, recently serving as the Community
Development Division Manager for the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section.
"Let me say this: I am old-school, and one of the things I've always spoken about when
advocating tennis is that tennis is different in how it forces you to control yourself-- your
attitude, your shot, your temper," said Gilmore. "I call 'controlled aggression.' In an era now
where athletes feel the need to be compelling, we don't condone expletives or tantrums-- the
kids are taken off the court immediately. We're teaching our kids to always rise above the
situation."
A commanding presence from a seated position - severe spinal injury from an automobile
accident at the age of 27 took away Gilmore's ability to walk - her hardships and subsequent
triumphs over adversity make her a tremendous role model for her charges. Self-described as
only a "summer-hacker" prior to her disability, Gilmore didn't get serious about the game until
she mastered it on two wheels, becoming the first African American woman to play on the
wheelchair tennis circuit and maintain a national ranking in the top 10 for five years.
"(Playing tennis) was very crucial to reacclamating myself, and reaffirming my confidence as
a human being," said Gilmore.
Tobias offered praise for a woman he considers "a mother, an aunt, and a sister."
"I can't express how she's helped me grow as a player and a person, and all that she's done
for everyone involved with the Foundation. The love she has, and the heart she has - we're all
her kids. She's incredibly proud whenever anyone goes on to play in college."
Indeed, for Gilmore, Tobias, and all those involved with running the organization, graduation
is the most satisfying ending for the kids of Prince George's. Through their College
Preparation & Personal Development program, 40 participating students have received
academic or athletic scholarships to universities all over the country from historically black
colleges such as Southern University and Howard University to Ivy League representatives
such as Duke University.
As Black History Month continues on, so does Prince George's. Gilmore remembers a time,
however, when such progress was a faraway wish.
"I grew up in the civil rights era, when blacks were not allowed to ride the same bus or sit at
the same counters. You hear some kids nowadays brush it off, saying 'I wasn't born back then!'
It is important for everyone, no matter what color, to recognize Black History Month and the
activism and change that came before. Many of our kids know the stories and the names
associated with the struggle, but don't really understand. It is when they get older and into
college that they tend to have greater appreciation. They'll find it out for themselves."
Before then, however, there are places to see and tennis to be played. The 18U Intermediate
team is but one example of the PGTEF trying to expand the horizons of their youngsters,
many of whom have never been on a plane before, or even out of their hometowns.
"We work hard to make sure these kids get to go on this trip, playing with kids from all walks of
life and other parts of the country," said Gilmore. "Tennis wise, our kids train and prepare
hard because they know that they're going to have to fight hard to win. That never changes."
spend classroom time in developing essays and artwork for the annual Arthur Ashe Essay
Contest. In 2009, PGTEF product Edward Harding III won the national prize for outstanding
essay in the Boys’ 15/16 age division and earned the trip to New York City and the US Open.
The strong work ethic and disciplined training habits of all the Prince George's kids can
largely be attributed to the influence of Brenda Gilmore, who has led the charge for over 15
years for the PGTEF and today serves as its Executive Director. Gilmore has also been
involved intricately with the USTA over the years, recently serving as the Community
Development Division Manager for the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section.
"Let me say this: I am old-school, and one of the things I've always spoken about when
advocating tennis is that tennis is different in how it forces you to control yourself-- your
attitude, your shot, your temper," said Gilmore. "I call 'controlled aggression.' In an era now
where athletes feel the need to be compelling, we don't condone expletives or tantrums-- the
kids are taken off the court immediately. We're teaching our kids to always rise above the
situation."
A commanding presence from a seated position - severe spinal injury from an automobile
accident at the age of 27 took away Gilmore's ability to walk - her hardships and subsequent
triumphs over adversity make her a tremendous role model for her charges. Self-described as
only a "summer-hacker" prior to her disability, Gilmore didn't get serious about the game until
she mastered it on two wheels, becoming the first African American woman to play on the
wheelchair tennis circuit and maintain a national ranking in the top 10 for five years.
"(Playing tennis) was very crucial to reacclamating myself, and reaffirming my confidence as
a human being," said Gilmore.
Tobias offered praise for a woman he considers "a mother, an aunt, and a sister."
"I can't express how she's helped me grow as a player and a person, and all that she's done
for everyone involved with the Foundation. The love she has, and the heart she has - we're all
her kids. She's incredibly proud whenever anyone goes on to play in college."
Indeed, for Gilmore, Tobias, and all those involved with running the organization, graduation
is the most satisfying ending for the kids of Prince George's. Through their College
Preparation & Personal Development program, 40 participating students have received
academic or athletic scholarships to universities all over the country from historically black
colleges such as Southern University and Howard University to Ivy League representatives
such as Duke University.
As Black History Month continues on, so does Prince George's. Gilmore remembers a time,
however, when such progress was a faraway wish.
"I grew up in the civil rights era, when blacks were not allowed to ride the same bus or sit at
the same counters. You hear some kids nowadays brush it off, saying 'I wasn't born back then!'
It is important for everyone, no matter what color, to recognize Black History Month and the
activism and change that came before. Many of our kids know the stories and the names
associated with the struggle, but don't really understand. It is when they get older and into
college that they tend to have greater appreciation. They'll find it out for themselves."
Before then, however, there are places to see and tennis to be played. The 18U Intermediate
team is but one example of the PGTEF trying to expand the horizons of their youngsters,
many of whom have never been on a plane before, or even out of their hometowns.
"We work hard to make sure these kids get to go on this trip, playing with kids from all walks of
life and other parts of the country," said Gilmore. "Tennis wise, our kids train and prepare
hard because they know that they're going to have to fight hard to win. That never changes."