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In acknowledgment of its positive impact on the tennis community and contributions to the sport's growth, the AYTEF Block Party is honored to receive the 2023 Georgia Professional Tennis Association Community Outreach Award. The Friday night Block Party event is made possible by the dedicated efforts of local high school and college tennis team volunteers, enabling AYTEF to serve the community exceptionally. We extend our gratitude to all volunteers, grantors, and donors for making this free event, featuring tennis, games, prizes, and pizza, possible.

2023 Holiday Awards Night

AYTEF youth, families, staff, and volunteers celebrated a successful 12 months of programming at our annual holiday party and awards night at Fair Oaks Tennis Center. The event included an ugly sweater contest, crafts and games, tennis games, and dinner for all in attendance. Each youth participant received an AYTEF sweatshirt, a hand-written card from our staff, an AYTEF Holiday Card, and a superlative award or recognition of success!

The following Top 5 awards above were given out to youth in our GAME and SET programs:

• Student Athlete of the Year
• Heartbeat of AYTEF
• Most Transformative
• Commitment to Excellence
• Outstanding Improvement
• AYTEF Family of the Year

During the Holiday Party, we were delighted to shine a spotlight on the incredible contributions of Laura Barnard within our AYTEF community. In recognition of her unwavering dedication to service and her remarkable ability to capture the essence of our organization, Laura Barnard has been honored with the prestigious AYTEF Volunteer of the Year Award.

Whether it's documenting special moments, supporting events, or going above and beyond to enhance the AYTEF experience, Laura has truly exemplified the spirit of volunteerism. Join us in congratulating Laura Barnard for being named the AYTEF Volunteer of the Year. Her commitment inspires us all to strive for excellence and make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.

Pumpkin Carving Tradition

In October, AYTEF students explored the theme of community, delving into discussions about racism and stereotypes, drawing from their personal experiences to encourage empathy and understanding. During this time, the students learned about Katherine Gooding, a young woman who embodied servant leadership, and were inspired to create a heartfelt gift for her parents in honor of her legacy, showcasing the impact of their actions on others. Additionally, the students continued the beloved tradition of pumpkin carving, utilizing collaboration and creativity to foster a sense of belonging and recognition for their hard work at AYTEF.

Student Service Project

Last year, AYTEF Youth organized a Food Drive and were met with overwhelming support as parents, board members, staff, and individuals in the community donated a plethora of nonperishable food items to be donated to Must Ministries. We overfilled the bucket! 

To keep the momentum and tradition going, AYTEF youth decided to do a book drive this year as it is an initiative that is meaningful to them as they've personally experienced the impact books have had on their lives as a developing student and individual. We are partnering with Books for Africa and will be sending these books to this non-profit organization to be shipped to children in Africa. In many countries, there is a book famine going on and to help combat this pervasive issue, we want to encourage as many people in our community to donate at least one book. Check out the video below our student athletes put together!

AYTEF Youth Tackle Time Management in the Learning Hub

During the Learning Hub December sessions, GameSetMatch Youth focused on developing crucial academic skills, emphasizing time management and analytical thinking. The students initially evaluated their time usage, creating visual representations and receiving peer feedback. Practical strategies, including the use of tools like Google Calendar and goal-setting, were explored. The integration of analytical thinking was demonstrated through logic puzzles, collaborative problem-solving activities, and a competitive relay challenge, fostering not only effective time management but also the cultivation of analytical skills among the participants. Learn more at aytef.org/blog.

October Block Party Highlights

Our next Block Party will be on Friday, February 23nd, 2024.

Registration will open the first week of the new year.

Take a look at what our parents had to say about 2023 Block Party events!



AYTEF Golf Tournament

The fifth annual AYTEF Regions Bank Golf Tournament was held at Dunwoody Country Club on October 23, 2023. Blessed by beautiful fall weather, the event was AYTEF’s largest fundraising event of the year and the most successful golf event to date. Thanks to the generous support of sponsors such as Regions Bank, Cobb County Toyota, UTA, UBS, and Krause Auto Group, AYTEF secured critical funds that will directly benefit the tennis and education programs for under-resourced youth at Fair Oaks Tennis Center. AYTEF sincerely appreciates the 19 tournament sponsors, 128 golfers, and 13 volunteers that, through their participation and generosity, are helping youth achieve on the court, in the classroom, and in life.

Give to AYTEF through the Cobb Thrives Gift Guide

AYTEF is showcased in the 2023 Cobb Thrives Gift Guide. We've identified essential items for enhancing our programming and logistics at Fair Oaks Tennis Center, such as a storage shed, player scholarships, and 5 Below Gift Cards. The Cobb Thrives Gift Guide simplifies the process for individuals, families, clubs, or businesses to support verified nonprofits benefitting our community.

Explore the guide and choose from a list of "harder to fund" items that can contribute to AYTEF's needs. All purchases are tax-deductible. Visit the guide to make a meaningful impact.