The PTP has been dedicated to providing tennis instruction year-round to children and adults without regard to age, ability, or financial status since 1954. The program has grown in the last six decades from its humble roots on the backyard tennis court of its founder (Eve Kraft) to a multi-venue organization with nine full-time tennis professionals serving 6,000 aspiring and experienced players each year. By subsidizing lesson fees and providing scholarships to players who cannot afford to pay, PTP encourages broad-based community participation.

"Inclusiveness has always been at the core of our mission. We want to reach people who would have never considered playing tennis before," states Gwen Guidice, executive director of PTP. "And we're doing more than just teaching them tennis. PTP tries to foster positive life skills by instilling good health habits and developing character, sportsmanship and citizenship."

In addition to offering quality group instruction to beginner through advanced level tennis players from age 3 and up, the PTP also provides special programs to help encourage new players to pick up a racquet and discover the joy of tennis. "A major part of what makes PTP so impactful is our outreach to the diverse members of our community. We offer senior classes, an autism program, wheelchair tennis and physical education programming," emphasizes PTP Board Chair Mike Finklestein. He notes that many of these programs are provided with financial aid or scholarships, making the courts accessible to all.

This year, PTP is also offering two scholarship awards: The Bayard Jordan Memorial Scholarship Award, which allows one junior player to attend PTP's Tournament Training Camp over the summer at no cost; and The Larisa Vaynberg Memorial College Scholarship Award, which awards $1500 to a graduating high school senior. Winners will be announced at the Princeton Tennis Classic on June 4th.

The broad community outreach of PTP may be a surprise to some, who may only be familiar with its flagship tennis facility, The Eve Kraft Community Tennis Center (formerly Princeton Indoor Tennis Center) on Washington Road. PTP also operates from two other satellite locations: the tennis courts at Community Park in Princeton, and Veteran's Park in Hamilton.

"PTP has truly been a pioneer in providing quality group tennis instruction at affordable prices beginning in the 1950s-nobody else was offering this type of thing. Princeton didn't even have a recreation department back then," says Guidice. She points out that the Princeton Tennis Program has been a model replicated throughout the country and has received numerous awards and honors from the United States Tennis Association (USTA), tennis' national governing body.

Looking ahead to PTP's future, Guidice and the PTP board have strategic plans to further expand the reach and impact of its tennis offerings through increased school programming, new partnerships, education, apprenticeship program and more scholarships.

Information on the 31st Annual Princeton Tennis Classic, a two-day event with dinner and awards on the evening of June 4, and a non-elimination doubles tournament for women, men, and mixed teams on June 5, can be found at www.ptp.org/ptc-information. NEW: online registration by clicking on the links under the Upcoming Events on the right of this page.