WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., February 1, 2010 - USTA Serves - Foundation for Academics.  Character.  Excellence., the philanthropic and charitable entity of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced today that under its "Aces for Kids" umbrella, it has awarded 24 year-end grants, for a total of $297,325.  Among the organizations honored was United Neighbors, Inc., in Davenport, Iowa, with a $20,000 grant.  The number of program grants awarded in 2009 was 37, for a total amount of $549,325.  Combined with scholarship awards, USTA Serves distributed nearly $1 million in 2009.

USTA Serves awards grants to programs that successfully combine tennis and education and help children pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens.

Aces for Kids is a national initiative of USTA Serves.  It strives to promote healthy lifestyles by combating childhood/adult obesity by providing disadvantaged, at-risk children the opportunity to learn to play tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format.  At Aces for Kids program sites, children between the ages of 5-18 learn about healthy nutrition and lifestyles, responsible citizenship, study skills, and computer literacy; interact with a mentor and other students; attend college preparatory sessions; and learn to play tennis in a team format.

Born from neighborhood action to revitalize Davenport's older neighborhoods, United Neighbors serves individuals and families in need through social and cultural interaction and educational experiences. It is neighborhood-controlled and assists primarily low-and moderate-income residents. Grant funds will support the organization's afterschool youth development program at Jefferson-Edison Elementary, as well as its expansion to two new sites: Wood Intermediate Pathway Program and Progressive Baptist Church.  Serving 250 children, United Neighbors youth programs empower youth to support and influence their community, sustain meaningful relationships with others, develop a positive self image, and respect their own and other's cultural identities.

"These programs are impacting the future of thousands of children, helping them to develop a healthy mentality and vital life skills that they will carry into adulthood," said Karen Martin-Eliezer, Chief Executive, USTA Serves. "We are grateful for the generous support of the many corporations and individual donors that empower USTA Serves to distribute these life-changing funds."

The 2009 year-end grants recipients:

1. Abundant Waters, New York, N.Y.

2. A's & Aces, New Orleans, La.

3. Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

4. CHAMPS Afterschool Enrichment Program, Erie, Pa.

5. City Parks Foundation, New York, N.Y.

6. Earthen Vessels Outreach, Pittsburgh, Pa.

7. Family and Children's Association, Mineola, N.Y.

8. Hamilton County Community Tennis Association, Indianapolis, Ind.

9. Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program, New York, N.Y.

10. Harper for Kids, San Francisco, Calif.

11. Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Inc., Orlando, Fla.

12. Houston Tennis Association Inc./NJTL, Houston, Texas

13. I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County, Boulder, Colo.

14. Indianola Main Street Association, Indianola, Miss.

15. Mentoring USA Inc., New York, N.Y.

16. Norwalk Grassroots Tennis, Inc., Norwalk, Conn.

17. Ossining Community Tennis Association Inc., Ossining, N.Y.

18. Project Lovematch Inc., Saddle River, N.J.

19. Sportsmen's Tennis Club Inc., Dorchester, Mass.

20. Tennis in the 'Hood Inc., Fayetteville, Ga.

21. The Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc., Langhorne, Pa.

22. United Neighbors, Inc., Davenport, Iowa

23. University of Akron, Dept. of Sport Science & Wellness, Akron, Ohio

24. University of Hawaii's Ace to Success, Honolulu, Hawaii

#  #  #

USTA Serves

Established in 1994, USTA Serves supports, monitors and promotes programs that enhance the lives of disadvantaged children through the integration of tennis and education.  USTA Serves actively supports individual students from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds through college scholarships and player incentive awards and encourages children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens.  Additionally, the Foundation supports community tennis programs across the country that provide positive role models, academic assistance, life skills, and tennis instruction to help prevent violence, substance abuse and school dropouts.  USTA Serves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds on the USTA's social conscience of addressing important health issues, diversity issues, and general well-being in the United States using tennis as the catalyst and change agent.

USTA

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is developing plans to stock Flathead catfish and channel catfish in the Rock River later this year as part of a continuing effort to speed the recovery of the river's fishery in the aftermath of a June 2009 fish kill.

Tens of thousands of sport fish were lost in the Rock River fish kill event first reported on June 20-21, 2009. At that time, dead fish were discovered in the Rock River in an area from two miles north of Grand Detour to 50 miles downstream at Prophetstown.

The IDNR stocked the river with smallmouth bass and northern pike last Summer and channel catfish last fall in the aftermath of the fish kill.

"At a recent meeting of area anglers, we again heard loud and clear how important the Rock River fishery is to them and to all of those who enjoy fishing from throughout the region," said Dan Sallee, regional administrator for the IDNR Division of Fisheries. "The Rock River fishery is very important to the local anglers and to the communities along the river. Although the fishery is expected to fully recover, the public would like to see all possible efforts made to speed this recovery."

IDNR fisheries biologists this Spring plan to collect and relocate up to 100 pairs of Flathead catfish into areas of the Rock River that were affected by the fish kill. At the same time, IDNR personnel will relocate pre-spawn channel catfish to the same area of the Rock River, and further supplement the channel catfish population by stocking small fish from state hatcheries.

"Individual female Flathead catfish may lay 100,000 eggs or more. If only one in 1,000 of these eggs survives and thrives, this stocking level would result in an increase of up to 10,000 Flathead catfish in the population," Sallee said. "This number of spawning pairs should speed the recovery of the fish kill zone. The channel catfish stocking will also be beneficial."

Anglers with questions about the Rock River fishery can contact IDNR District Fisheries Biologist Ken Clodfelter at 815-454-2759.

###

Moline, IL -- Give a child a jump start on their future by bowling in the Trinity JA Bowl-A-Thon at Bowlmor, Highland Park, Milan Lanes, Miller Time and Town & Country bowling alleys on Saturday, February 20.  Have a great time while raising funds to support financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs provided by Junior Achievement to area schools.

You don't need to be a good bowler; just an enthusiastic one to participate.  Get together a group of friends, co-workers or family members to form a team.  Then join us for a fun-filled, exciting day of bowling and prize giveaways.  The money you raise will help support local students participating in JA programs.

You can help one child, one classroom at a time by participating in the Trinity JA Bowl-A-Thon.  Call the Junior Achievement of the Heartland office at (309) 736-1630 or visit www.jaheartland.org for more details on how to sign up!  Each team that raises $500 or more will be eligible to strike it big and win a trip to New York City.  Each member of the winning team will receive two nights lodging in a private room along with round-trip airfare from Chicago.

This year more than 49,600 students throughout JA of the Heartland's 24 counties will receive JA programs.  Thank you to the following sponsors for their participation in this upcoming event; Trinity Regional Heath System, B100, Great River Medical Center, HNI Corporation, Silver Oaks Corporation, Star 93.5, Wells Fargo Bank, and Winegard and Fun City.  JA appreciates their support in making this event a success.  

About JA Worldwide® (Junior Achievement)

JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA Worldwide offers educational programs that focus on three key content areas: entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy. Today, 134 individual area operations reach approximately four million students in the United States, with an additional 3.5 million students served by operations in 114 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 49,600 students in 24 counties throughout eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.jaheartland.org.

WHO: GENERAL PUBLIC

WHAT: Wii FUN NIGHT FUNDRAISER

WHEN: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

WHERE: IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3834 ROCKINGHAM ROAD, DAVENPORT.

Immanuel Lutheran Church & Preschool in Davenport, along with Christ Lutheran High School is having a Wii Fun Night Fundraiser on Friday, November 20th, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. There will be several Wii game stations, as well as other kid's games, a Cupcake Walk and face-painting. There will also be food. On the Menu: Soup, Chili, Hot dogs, Chili-dogs, Nachos, Popcorn, Pop, Cookies and Brownies. Tickets will be used for all games, cupcake walk and food; 5 tickets for $1. For more information contact Kathy Yaudas at the church office 563-324-6431. This event is supplemented by Thrivent Congregational money.

All proceeds will be divided and benefit: Christ Lutheran High School, Immanuel Lutheran Preschool and Immanuel's Lutheran Education Scholarships.

Wii hope you are able to join us!

###