Vineyard Family Tennis
Vineyard Family Tennis was fortunate enough to have been awarded two grants from MVYouth. The first award allowed us to purchase a brand-new air-supported tennis bubble. Later, VFT was awarded a second grant; this time for the purchase and installation of a climate control system that allows for the use of the bubble year-round as well as provides for healthy indoor air quality. This past year, Vineyard Family Tennis continued to welcome more Vineyard families through our junior development program, summer camps and adult tennis activities. Our afterschool program ran to near capacity as our coaches trained children ages 3-18 each afternoon and on Saturday mornings. Summer 2023 was our busiest on record as VFT hosted morning, afternoon and full-day campers for a total of 10 weeks. Adult tennis lovers also enjoyed the facility before and after camp and on the weekends through court usage and private and group instruction. The future is very exciting at VFT as we plan to expand our suite of programming. This past fall, we began a collaboration with the USTA’s National Junior Tennis and Learning Network. As a prospective NJTL chapter, we plan to enhance our reach to local youth through a combination of low-cost tennis and a brand-new afterschool education program. Our adaptive tennis initiative is another program that we plan to further cultivate this year. As an official ACEing Autism partner, we offer on-court opportunities to help children with autism grow, develop and benefit from social connections and fitness through affordable tennis programming. We hope to introduce similar adaptive tennis opportunities in the coming year.
Vineyard Family Tennis
Vineyard Family Tennis is fortunate enough to have been awarded two grants from MVYouth. The first was in 2019 to replace our tennis bubble, which was destroyed in a nor’easter winter storm. In 2020, Vineyard Family Tennis was awarded a second grant; this time for the purchase and installation of a 30-ton climate control system which allows the bubble to be used year-round.
Through the kindness of MVYouth, VFT has been fortunate enough to provide programming to children uninterrupted for the last three years. In these three years, we have awarded nearly 700 no-cost memberships to Island children. Our after-school program hosts 40-50 children each weekday afternoon in a safe, nurturing, educational environment. We provide additional programs on weekends including clinics, round robins and various social events. This past summer our junior tennis camp hosted more than 100 children each day over a 10 week period.
VFT is committed to providing tennis to children on Martha’s Vineyard regardless of family income. As a result, we have awarded financial assistance to numerous Island families. Without the expansion grant awards from MVYouth, VFT most certainly would not have been able to provide these opportunities to Island children and their families.
Vineyard Family Tennis is forever grateful to the MVYouth organization for their generosity. We are extremely proud of Vineyard Family Tennis and truly enjoy sharing this life-sport and all of the benefits that it provides. Together with MVYouth, we hope to continue our work in the Martha’s Vineyard community for many years to come.
Vineyard Family Tennis
Since 2019, Vineyard Family Tennis has been fortunate enough to have been awarded two grants from MVYouth, the first in 2019 to replace our tennis bubble which was destroyed in a 2018 nor’easter winter storm. In 2020, Vineyard Family Tennis was awarded a second grant. This time for the purchase and install a 30-ton climate control system. The addition of this new HVAC system was critical for two reasons. First, we could offer programming to children uninterrupted, year round, while eliminating the high cost of taking the bubble down each summer. Second, we are able to better preserve the integrity of the bubble by drawing out moist, humid air which in turn prevents the growth of mold in this especially vulnerable environment. This past August, installation of the HVAC system was completed. The Vineyard Family Tennis campus made the transformation into a four-court summer facility offering climate controlled tennis activities. Our summer program hosted more than 100 children each day through our camps and hourly class opportunities. Our after school program continues to thrive with over 250 children participating each week. Vineyard Family Tennis is forever grateful to the MVYouth organization for their generosity. We are extremely proud of Vineyard Family Tennis and truly enjoy sharing this life-sport and all of the benefits that it provides. Together with MVYouth, we are able to continue our work in the Martha’s Vineyard community for many years to come.
Vineyard Family Tennis
Two years ago, Vineyard Family Tennis was fortunate enough to have been awarded a grant from MVYouth to replace our bubble structure which had been destroyed in a winter nor’easter storm. As a result, VFT was able to continue our mission of providing year-round progressive instruction, training, match play and court use to island children and their families. Since that time, the number of children in our Junior Development Program as well as our Advanced Training Program has grown exponentially. We are proud to offer no-cost memberships to 515 island children ranging from ages 3-18. Our financial aid program which assists families with the cost of instruction, has accommodated all requests to date and currently provides assistance to 20 families. The new bubble structure has allowed us to offer an even wider array of tennis playing opportunities for islanders of all ages and experience levels. In April of 2020, VFT was granted a modification to our MV Commission permit allowing us to leave the bubble inflated permanently. This important milestone gave us the ability to provide programming in the bubble uninterrupted. It has also allowed for a significant cost savings as the dismantling, storing and re-installation costs can reach nearly $40,000 annually. The challenge we faced in leaving the bubble up permanently was the inability to cool and dehumidify the interior of the bubble often making the courts unplayable during the hot summer months. A climate control system added to our existing air handling unit was needed. This system would not only allow for the use of the bubble on hot summer days, but would also help to extend the life of the structure by drawing out moist, humid air which in turn will prevent the growth of mold. Thanks once again to the incredible generosity of MVYouth, VFT was awarded a grant in the amount of $75,000 to allow for the purchase and installation of a 30 ton climate control system. While the pandemic has postponed the use of our new system to the summer of 2021, we look forward to serving 300+ tennis campers on all four of our courts rather than just two! VFT is proud to serve the families of Martha’s Vineyard. We are so grateful for the generous assistance from MVYouth and their funding of the new climate control system as we continue to share tennis and all of its benefits to island families.
Vineyard Family Tennis
It would be an understatement to say that the grant awarded to Vineyard Family Tennis has made a significant impact on the program. Funding from our extremely generous, longtime, sole benefactor was set to end in August 2018. Our bubble, which covers two tennis courts in the winter months, was destroyed in a powerful nor’easter storm. VFT found itself in a challenging situation to say the least. Thanks to the generosity of MVYouth, an emergency grant was awarded to replace the damaged bubble. As the new bubble was under construction, VFT sought approval from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Oak Bluffs Selectmen and Zoning Board of Appeals to permit adult play at the facility when youth programs are not in session. Fees collected from adult players subsidize youth programs and allow for the development of a new, sustainable funding model. With the new tennis bubble erected and change in permitting approved, VFT re-opened on March 4, 2019. Nearly 200 children returned to the courts to participate in our early spring session after four months off. Our subsequent summer and fall sessions were equally successful as we proudly support a junior membership of 400 island youth!The girls high school team comprised of VFT players went on to capture a fifth state championship title while the boys saw success as well, reaching the quarterfinals of the state tournament.
Vineyard Family Tennis
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: VYT was granted permission by the M.V. Commission in April 2019 to leave their bubble up year-round. Having the bubble in place during the shoulder seasons and the summer enables VYT to offer more instruction to Vineyard children, without interruption. Previously, it took at least two weeks to dismantle the bubble in the spring and two more weeks to install it in the fall, at a total cost of $40,000. In addition to the expense, this created a significant loss of court time available for instruction; a minimum of four weeks per year. Having the bubble available year-round also eliminates cancellations of programs during inclement weather in the spring, summer and fall.
When VYT applied for assistance from M.V. Youth, we had not yet been granted a modification of our M.V. Commission permit; our assumption was that the bubble could only be a seasonal structure. Therefore, we did not include the cost of installing a climate control unit to cool and dehumidify the interior of the bubble during the summer months. We found that, without climate control this past summer, the bubble was usable in the early mornings, late afternoons and during inclement weather. However, during mid-days in hot weather, we could not use the bubble for youth instruction because of high temperatures.
Providing capital for a new climate control system will enable VYT to continue and expand the programs it has offered for 21 years. As an integral part of our teaching strategy, the bubble allows us to provide tennis instruction to student athletes year-round, in the shoulder season and throughout the winter. A climate control system will enable VYT to fully utilize the bubble, during any weather, year-round. This will provide continuity to our young players who depend on VYT for sports training, mentorship, and confidence-building.The manufacturer advised us that the structure will last up to twice as long if not dismantled, stored and re-erected annually.
Vineyard Family Tennis
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: Funds from MVYouth will enable VYT to purchase a new tennis “bubble” to replace the aged one that collapsed in March 2018 and deemed beyond repair. The new bubble will allow the organization to continue to offer instruction to students year-round. MVYouth’s Advisory Board and Trustees voted to support VYT ahead of schedule in their 2019 Expansion Grant cycle in order to expedite the purchase of the bubble and preempt interruption of winter instruction.
VYT’s mission is to cultivate proficiency in a life-sport and instill the qualities of sportsmanship, commitment, perseverance and character in young people. VYT was founded 20 years ago through the generosity and vision of West Tisbury resident, Gerald De Blois, who financially supported the program throughout its existence. The program started as an after-school activity with an enrollment of 20 children. It has grown into a year-round program which serves approximately 300 kids annually at their four-court facility near the rotary in Oak Bluffs.
VYT’s proximity to MVRHS has enabled a strong partnership to be developed. MVRHS Varsity Boys and Girls teams, whose players were nurtured in VYT’s youth programs, won six State Championships in the past seven years. VYT hopes to expand their programmatic offerings to serve 18-25 year olds through a mentorship program, in which high school graduates can continue to play and participate as mentors and instructors of elementary and middle school children. VYT is also eager to expand their partnership with the Y to offer members tennis benefits.
VYT recently gained approval from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Oak Bluffs Selectmen and Zoning Board of Appeals to allow adult play at the facility when youth programs are not in session. Fees collected from adult players will subsidize youth programs and establish a sustainable funding model to replace the generous support of their sole beneficiary, which ended in August 2018. For the first 20 years of their operating history, VYT’s programs were offered free for all participants. Under a new operating model, they will continue to offer free introductory six-week sessions to any child wishing to participate, followed by nominal fees for instruction at upper levels. VYT has established a scholarship program for families requiring assistance with new program fees.