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The USTA Florida Section Foundation is very excited to announce that a PLAY TENNIS! license plate is available from the Department of Motor Vehicles in the State of Florida.
It is visible support for the sport we all love!
Each purchase will help the USTA Florida Section Foundation achieve its mission “to improve the health and quality of life of Floridians through tennis.”
90% of all proceeds from the “Play Tennis!” plate will allow the Foundation to assist charitable organizations in operating tennis programs for Florida’s youth and special needs populations, along with building and renovating public tennis courts.
TO GET THE TAG:
- Take your current tag registration form and proof of insurance to a local DMV (this cannot initially be done online).
- There is a $25 fee for the plate each year.
- For a personalized tag (additional $12 cost), choose a maximum combination of 5 letters and numbers.
- It is best to wait within 60 days of one's birth month in order to get a full year on one's registration.
Go to the following website to check out ahead of time letters and numbers that are available:
https://www6.hsmv.state.fl.us/mvcheck/platecheck/main.jsp
Helpful Links: FAQs on Specialty Plates | Play Tennis plate information
USTA Florida Section Foundation Mission:
“To Improve the Health and Quality of Life of Floridians through Tennis”
USTA Florida Section Foundation, Inc. is the supporting 501(c)3 organization that carries out the charitable purposes of USTA Florida. Founded in 2004, the Foundation values tennis programs that develop self-esteem and human potential for all Floridians, regardless of age and ability. It is the Foundation’s belief that tennis provides opportunities for healthy social, emotional, physical and educational development and encourages peer and family participation.
The Foundation provides grants for:
• after school and physical education programs for at-risk and special population children in Florida.
• instruction, travel and equipment grants for underprivileged, at-risk and special populations children and adults.
• the renovation, refurbishment and building of quality public tennis facilities along with tennis programming and instruction.
Previous Grant Recipients
Since 2005, the Foundation has given $36,000 in grants to:
• MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation for their Excellence/Leadership Program for children in Jacksonville;
• Tennis Foundation of St. Petersburg for education program to create their Arthur Ashe Center of Academic Achievement;
• New Operation Cooper Street for renovation of the existing tennis court to provide a safe environment for the children’s tennis program.
Board of Directors
| Jean Mills |
President |
| Don Cleveland |
Secretary/Treasurer |
| Maria Cercone |
Director |
| Paddi Valentine |
Director |
| Judy Foster |
Director |
| Peggy Beard |
Director |
| Jake Renfroe III |
Director |
The Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) Public Charity. Contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible under Section 170 of the IRS Code. The Foundation is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under IRS codes.
The USTA Florida Section Foundation welcomes your contributions to support our mission and goals.
Check Payable to:
USTA Florida Section Foundation
Attn: Jean Mills, President
1 Deuce Court, Ste 100
Daytona Beach, FL 32124
click here to DONATE NOW!
For more information, please contact Sherry Beckman, USTA Florida Section Foundation Executive Director, at 561-630-5610 or at beckman10s@yahoo.com.
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l-r: Attorney General Bill McCollum, Governor Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, USTA Florida Section Foundation President Jean Mills, USTA Florida President Celia Rehm, Executive Director (DHSMV) Electra Theodorides-Bustle and Linda Curtis |
FLORIDA CABINET FORMALLY ACCEPTS NEW PLAY TENNIS SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE
USTA Florida Section Foundation, the charitable arm of USTA Florida, excited about possibilities
The new State of Florida Tennis License plate was formally accepted at a meeting of the Florida Cabinet on Sept. 30, 2008 at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. Electra Theodorides-Bustle, Executive Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) respectfully submitted the plate on behalf of the USTA Florida Section Foundation. Governor Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum, and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, unanimously approved the Florida Tennis specialty license plate, which becomes the first tennis license plate in the state of Florida.
“On behalf of the USTA Florida Section Foundation and USTA Florida, we are thrilled to be a part of this very special day in the history of Florida Tennis,” said Linda Curtis, Director of Community Tennis, USTA Florida. “We are very excited about the possibilities that the revenue from the license plate will bring to the citizens and the visitors of Florida for many years to come.”
Individuals who purchase the license plate will not only be a part of tennis history in Florida, but they have an opportunity to show their love of the sport and feel good doing it - knowing that they are giving back to their communities.
“With the foundation’s mission “to improve the health and quality of life for all Floridians through tennis” we will now have even more opportunities for children and adults of all ages and all abilities to learn and play tennis at quality facilities across the state,” said Jean Mills, USTA Florida Section Foundation President and Director of Tennis, Polo Club Boca Raton. “The proceeds of the Play Tennis license plate will allow the foundation to assist other non-profit organizations so they can create tennis programs for our Florida youth, operate tennis programs for people with special needs of all ages, and for the building and renovating of quality public tennis facilities.”
Tennis is the fastest growing traditional sport in the United States and with 2 million players in Florida alone, final Cabinet approval for the specialty plate ensures that USTA Florida and the Section Foundation will help provide the infrastructure of tennis courts and quality programs on those courts to match the future growth of tennis.
“The exciting possibilities of this accomplishment by the Florida Section Foundation are huge,” said Celia Rehm, USTA Florida President. “We are asking the multitude of tennis players and tennis enthusiasts in Florida to continue to show their passion for tennis and help us expand the visibility of the tennis brand exponentially by purchasing a Play Tennis specialty plate.”
Designed by USTA Florida League Tennis Assistant, Dona Garcia, the new Florida Tennis license plate is expected to be available for statewide purchase by tennis fans and community supporters by January 2009.
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l-r: Marketing & Membership Coordinator Trina Singian, Celia Rehm, Linda Curtis, Communications Coordinator Tori Townsend, and Jean Mills pose with Paula Stanfield (middle), who was instrumental in helping the foundation through the the license plate process. |
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