With just one swing of a racket, a passion for tennis is born. In the case of Diamond, as told by Coach Garrett of Washington Elementary, that first swing almost didn’t happen. Fortunately, Diamond was able to ACE!
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How do you develop perseverance? One swing at a time! Coach Mueller from Pitts-Ashburton Elementary in Baltimore provides a perfect example of this through his Winner Wonderland story about young ACE-er Tacoma.
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You can’t put a value on a smile, but you can see how one can brighten up everything around it. Take Jayden’s smile, for instance. As Coach Konczal points out, Jayden’s smile lights up the gym. See how.
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The Winner Wonderland series continues with a story from Roosevelt Elementary in Dolton. Coach Benedict, a recent addition to the ACE team, shares her experience on the court with 2nd grader Nevaeh in this edition!
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We are kicking off our Winner Wonderland series with a story from Coach Janet Eaker from Washington Elementary School, featuring two former ACE-ers, Jeremiah and Jessica, who continue to shine on and off the court by helping their younger peers learn new skills.
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The ACE Project has a lot to be thankful for in 2018, but the year is far from over! We are thrilled to share that our anonymous donor who provided matching funds last year has returned. And they brought a friend: USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation! That's right, we have an $8,000 match goal to hit by the end of December, and you can help us ring in the new year by making a donation today.
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The ACE Project has been so fortunate to work alongside parents in our communities to benefit our programs, and with the Parent Mentor Program, we will take a crucial step forward toward better parent engagement. What is this program, though? Why is it important? How will we pull it off? Don’t worry! We have the answers!
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The summer months in the Chicagoland area were heating up with all the activities around the Art Courts renovation project, but that doesn't mean our Baltimore youth watched the summer pass by without any tennis!
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Following the unveiling of the renovated Art Courts in Riverdale, The ACE Project had an opportunity to partner with the United States Tennis Association and Chase to host Return the Serve for a 3rd consecutive year. The pictures alone capture all the excitement and fun of the day, but make sure to read up on how it all came together!
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Riverdale joins communities located in Miami, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and New York as part of the Art Courts initiative, a tennis court renovation project that amplifies the importance of public courts and their ability to provide youth with rich opportunities for growth, personal development, and culture.
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Wow, 12 weeks went by fast! With the successful wrap of Serve and Connect in Baltimore and Chicago, we reflect on the lessons learned then consider how to sustain the relationships we established through the project.
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Though many students jump for joy when school is excused for the summer, the children living in south suburban Chicago and Baltimore City are forced to consider their level of safety due to increased violence. How can we make a difference in young lives and save the summer through The ACE Project?
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Michael Airhart is an unstoppable force in the Riverdale community; he is always ready to take action to benefit the lives of others, and The ACE Project is so grateful to have him in our corner. Check out this interview with Michael following the creation of Ace, our new mascot.
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The ACE team is the BEST team, and we had an opportunity to share this fact with Voyage Chicago in an interview recently as part of its Most Inspiring Stories series. Susan Klumpner, executive director and co-founder, answers all the essential questions about how ACE came into existence, but what keeps it running is its fabulous team! Check out the interview!
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The ACE Project aim to strengthen our community networks by launching Serve and Connect, which will welcome local police officers into our Baltimore- and Chicago-based schools and give them the opportunity to participate in learning activities with students. In partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Foundation, Serve and Connect kicks off at the end of February, and we can't wait for the fun to begin!
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ACE catches up with Ms. Janet Eaker, physical education teacher at Washington Elementary School in Riverdale, to learn what motivates her as a coach and teacher. Her answers may not surprise you---the students play a major role---but Coach Eaker's heart and dedication are felt through her responses
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For our first time going beyond, Ms. Marika Allen-Lyles, 4th grade math and science teacher at Calvin Rodwell Elementary School in Baltimore, chronicles the leadership qualities blossoming in 4th grader Nathaniel (far right) as he takes charge on the court and in the classroom.
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The ACE Project was invited by the USTA Foundation to attend the Spring 2018 Capacity Building Training in Orlando, Florida. Though it might not sound like the place where dreams come true, members of the ACE team gathered with organizations from across the country to discuss how best to make childhood dreams become a reality.
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