Israel Tennis Centers Embarks on the Next 40 Years in Its Remarkable Mission of Empowerment

New York, NY, February 1, 2017 (Newswire.com) - 2017 marks the beginning of the next exciting chapter in the extraordinary story of the Israel Tennis Centers, the largest social service agency for children in Israel. Last year the organization celebrated its 40^th anniversary of empowering Israel’s children… beyond tennis… since the ITC’s first center opened in Ramat Hasharon in 1976.

“Few accomplishments in the proud and storied history of Israel can compare to what the Israel Tennis Centers has achieved over these last 4 decades,” said ITC Founder Bill Lippy. “The ‘Miracle in the Desert’ is what we call the Israel Tennis Centers, transforming the lives of over 20,000 underserved Israeli children every year. 40 years of witnessing the growth of the ITC from one single center to 14 today is an incredible testimony to what can be done when people come together to help those less fortunate reach their full potential.”

This year that celebratory spirit continues, as the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation announced plans for an ambitious series of 12 exhibitions and receptions in late February and March in New York and Florida:

Sat., Feb 25   The Club of Riverdale   Riverdale, NY   Exhibition and Reception, 5 pm

Tue., Feb 28   Boca West CC   Boca Raton, FL   Exhibition, 9am & Gala Dinner, 6 pm

Wed., Mar 1  Addison Reserve  Delray Beach, FL   Exhibition & Buffet Dinner, 5 pm

Sat., Mar 4   B’nai Torah   Boca Raton, FL   Shabbat Services, 11 am

Sat., Mar 4   The Gables Club   Coral Gables, FL   Exhibition & Reception, 4 pm

Sun., Mar 5   Polo Club   Boca Raton, FL   Exhibition & Refreshments, 3:30 pm

Mon, Mar 6   Palm Aire CC   Pompano Beach, FL   Luncheon, 12 pm

Tues., Mar 7   Frenchman’s Creek   Palm Beach Gardens, FL    Exhibition & Dinner, 5 pm

Wed, Mar 8   Boca Raton Resort   Boca Raton, FL   Cocktail Reception, 5 pm

Thurs., Mar 9   St. Andrews CC   Boca Raton, FL   Tennis Exhibition & Reception, 5 pm

Mon., Mar 13   Academia Sanchez-Casal   Naples, FL   Exhibition & Reception, 4:30 pm

Wed., Mar 15   Longboat Key Club Resort   Longboat Key, FL  Exhibition & Reception, 4:30 pm

A diverse team of Israeli players and coaches representing various Israel Tennis Centers will be flying to the U.S. to share their personal stories about what the ITC has meant to them, their families and the communities in which they live. The centers represent a safe and nurturing environment in which these children can learn vital life values while sharpening their tennis skills.

The focus of the ITC is on changing children’s lives every day so they can become better human beings. Through its social impact programs, a wide range of children are served, including youth at risk, immigrants from Ethiopian and Russia and children with special needs, from autism and ADHD to Down Syndrome as well as those with developmental and physical disabilities. The ITC also recognizes the ability of tennis to bring together children from different religions as seen in its highly successful Coexistence Program.

The Israeli players will include Shadi, a 16-year-old Bedouin teenager who is part of the ITC’s High Performance Group at the Samson Israel Tennis Center in Beer Sheva. Shadi also participates in the ITC’s Coexistence Program that brings Israeli children from various backgrounds together to learn the importance of tolerance and understanding of one another. “I am proud to be part of the ITC, one in which we are taught to respect and appreciate each other’s differences. I play with a large group of Jewish kids and we have all become very close friends. We are truly one big happy family.”

For more information or to attend any of the events and meet Shadi and his teammates up close and personal, contact ITC Vice President of Development Yoni Yair at 954-480-6333 x223 or yyair@israeltenniscenters.org. You can also learn more by visiting the ITC website at www.israeltenniscenters.org.

About the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation:

For 40 years the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation (ITC), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, has  worked tirelessly through the medium of sport to enhance the development of Israeli youth. Since opening its first center in Ramat Hasharon in 1976, the ITC has helped over a half million children, many of whom come from outlying and underserved towns throughout Israel. The ITC’s 14 centers stretch from Kiryat Shmona on the Lebanese border in the North to Beer Sheva bordering the Negev Desert in the South. http://www.israeltenniscenters.org.

Contacts:

Jacqueline Glodstein
ITC Executive Vice President, Global Development
212-784-9201

Richard Weber
ITC Global Director of Marketing
212-784-9202

Source: Israel Tennis Centers Foundation