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Wendy Gray receiving Community Service Award from Mayor Marolyn Morrison |
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Home |
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The James L Gray Youth Tennis Outreach Program fosters goodwill, sportsmanship and the opportunity for self-development through the promotion of the game of tennis. The program began in 2006 and became a registered not-for-profit Ontario Corporation in January 2008 |
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10 Zimmerman Ct #5 Caledon, Ontario L7E 4C2 |
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To contact us: |
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wendygray@rogers.com |
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Promoting Youth Tennis in Caledon-Dufferin and Erin |
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James L Gray Tennis Foundation |
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Our Story |
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“Jimmy loved the game of tennis. He was at his best on a tennis court, so when he died in September, 2004, it just felt right to start the Foundation with the intention of sharing his love of the game with the young people in our community.” These are the words of Wendy Gray as she recalls the beginning of the program that has, so far, exposed over 3,000 school children in Caledon/Dufferin/Erin area to the game of tennis. “It was important to me that the kids get the very best basic training available; and this meant hiring professional tennis coaches to go into the schools. With the enthusiastic assistance and support of local principals and teachers, we created the Outreach Program which not only gives the kids tennis basics, but also encouraged the teachers to include the life-long sport of tennis in their class outlines.” As a result, during three physical education classes over a three-week period each spring professional instructors and enthusiastic volunteers provided by local tennis clubs meet during the phys ed classes at local schools and share their love of the game with children in grades 4 through 6. “All instructors generously offered their services at a reduced rate to assist us in meeting our objectives,” said Mrs. Gray. Following the in-school program, the students are invited to attend get-acquainted events at the local club facility for follow-up sessions with their families. The school out-reach program has so far been funded by an annual fall tennis tournament, organized by Mrs. Gray, appropriately called The Gray Cup. But as the popularity of the program increases and more schools express an interest in it, an alternative source of funding will have to be found. The Foundation will take the Outreach program to 8 schools in 2011. |
