'Boots On Court' Initiative Awarded Tennis Grant

No need for tennis sneakers: The Blue Sky Foundation has been honoured this year for bringing “Boots on the Court” to military members across the United States.  

The organisation is this year’s recipient of an award from the Jim McManus Memorial Fund for its Boots on the Court initiative. The program was created by former World No. 8 Dick Stockton, now President and Executive Director of the Blue Sky Foundation, and his wife, Liz. The goal is to use tennis as a way of thanking American troops — servicemen, servicewomen, veterans and their families — for their continued service by offering free tennis clinics at different military installations around the country. The clinics are open to active personnel, Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and their spouses or children.  Every participant must be a “military ID cardholder” or the spouse or child of such a cardholder.

Since their initial event in July 2013 at Fort Bragg (N.C.), Boots on the Court has held 19 other events across the U.S. that include youth (ages 4-8), junior (ages 9-15) and adult clinics. This past year, they visited Fort Benning (Ga.), Camp Lejeune (N.C.), Andrews Air Force Base (Md.), and West Point (N.Y.).

“The response we have gotten has been amazing. We are averaging about 100 participants per event, ranging in age from three to 87. The biggest group is always the kids from four to 10 years old; probably 65 per cent of the total number of participants are in this particular age bracket,” said Stockton. “We have truly been honoured to be able to bring these clinics to the folks in our military. I can honestly say that this has been the most incredible experience in my life.”

The Jim McManus Memorial Fund is an initiative aimed to provide assistance to an individual or program which demonstrates passion and dedication for the sport of tennis, its heritage, sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Click here to learn more about Boots on the Court and the Blue Sky Foundation.