About the program

Our Vision

A future where everyone, regardless of zip code, has access to tennis as a pathway to health, fun, confidence, and lifelong possibility.

Our Purpose

We exist so all people can experience the lifelong benefits of tennis.

Our Mission

To provide community-based tennis programs and develop coaches who expand access to the game.

We are a nonprofit tennis program run by USTA Chicago and named in honor of Alan G. Schwartz, continuing his belief that tennis should be available to all.

Our program is funded and supported through partnerships with Midtown Athletic Club, the Schwartz family, the Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation, and USTA, alongside other private donors passionate about the possibilities of tennis. Together we combine community access with the expertise, standards, and reach of leading teaching institutions.

What we do

We expand access to tennis across Chicago through no- and low-cost introductory programs and community coach development. We prioritize options for youth in under-resourced communities, creating long-term pathways into the sport. The Alan G. Schwartz Community Tennis Program is about meeting people at their first serve and staying with them as they grow.

The program was launched in 2019 in just 6 parks with 450 players and has grown to 43 parks and more than 4,000 players. But the true impact isn’t measured only in numbers. It’s seen in confidence gained. In friendships formed. In people who begin to see what’s possible for themselves, on the court and beyond.

We have seen tennis provide hope, life skills and joy to players. From the homeless youth who found her way towards financial sustainability through tennis, to a young man battling with autism spectrum disorder who found focus and passion and confidence, to a 67 year old who found exercise and social activity that enriches her life. These are lives transformed by tennis.

This is more than a tennis program. It’s a commitment to access. A belief in potential. And a living expression of Alan Schwartz’s vision: that tennis, when shared, can transform lives.