James Lewis Education and Tennis Foundation, Inc.

Coach Kevin Sun finished his coaches apprenticeship program in early October. He had to put in 50 hours of shadowing with certified coaches at the George Ward Tennis Center. Pictured below is Coach Kevin with his mother to the left and his brother and sister. Also pictured on the left is Coach Lewis and on the right is Coach Marcello. Thanks to Coach Lewis, Coach Marcello, Coach Galen and Coach James for helping Kevin with his coaching skills. We also appreciate Tony and James for putting in the work to keep our ProShop and courts looking first class.

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Please donate on Oct 20th or 21st.

Coach Parker Liu coaches at the George Ward Tennis Center and is a National Merit Semi-Finalist. We are so proud of him and he started tennis at our tennis center. Congratulations to Coach Parker and continue to keep up your good work!!

Our USTA Southern and National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Girls Program was started on Saturday, 10/5/24, at the George Ward Tennis Center at 1pm. We have eight young ladies participating in this six week program that meets once a week on Saturday. This program brings in a speaker each week for the first 45 minutes and the last 45 minutes is on court. Our speaker on 10/5/24 was Police Officer Marks. Coaches Denene and Hadassah oversee this program that is sponsored by USTA Southern.

The Birmingham Chapter of Xavier University had its 28th Jazz Brunch at the Harbert Center on Saturday, 9/21/24, from 10am to 2pm. Thanks to Dr. Marcia Pecot, Director of Alumni Relation, for being our presenter and to our wonderful team of alumni for their support of our fundraiser. We continue to support four students from the Birmingham Metropolitan area that attend Xavier University in New Orleans. We have given Xavier over $169,000 over the years toward scholarships. Much thanks also to our sponsors for all their support!!

On Tuesday, 9/10/24, the James Lewis Education and Tennis Foundation (JLETFI) presented Better Basics with a $5,550 check for their Booker T. Washington reading and math program. This program will take place soon and will improve the reading and math levels of a select group of kids at this elementary school. Thanks to Better Basics for having great results last year at the second grade level. Pictured below from left to right are Darlene Gray (Program Director), Rudy Lewis (NJTL Manager), Catherine Goudreau (Executive Director) and Betty Wells (President - JLETFI).

At our James Lewis Education and Tennis Foundation Board Meeting on Thursday, 9/5/24, we honored our National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) state essay winner Marley Belle (yellow outfit). Marley is pictured with Betty Wells (grandmother), Eliza Belle (mother), Kalon Belle (father), Avery Belle (sister) and Robert Wells (grandfather). Congratulations again Marley for being our NJTL state essay winner!!

Nigel Billings graduated from Starkville High School in May of 2024 and has done most of his tennis with his dad, Coach Nathan Echols, out of the George Ward Tennis Center. Congratulations to Nigel who hopes to attend college in 2025.

Marley Belle is the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) state essay winner and is a member of the James Lewis Education and Tennis Foundation Incorporated Chapter. She will be attending the Charlotte, North Carolina Invitational featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, Sloan Stephens, and Madison Keys on Friday, 12/6/24. All expenses will be paid for her and one parent or guardian. Congratulations to Marley for winning the NJTL State Essay Contest!!

Thanks to State Representative Travis Hendrix for providing the James Lewis and George Ward Tennis Centers with a $2,000 grant. This money will be used to support our junior and adult programs. Pictured below from left to right are Cheryl Lockhart, Donald Smith, Travis Hendrix and Mary Mullins.

The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) level one workshop was held on Saturday, 7/27/24, through Sunday, 7/28/24. Thanks to everyone that participated in this workshop and pictured below from left to right (front row) are Denene Wright, James Giles, Kevin Sun and Hadassah Dorius. In the back row from left to right are Coach Rudy Lewis, Parker Liu and Coach Tito Perez (PTR instructor). Thanks to everyone that participated!