2023
IMPACT
REPORT
Creating Opportunities
CONTENTS
CLUB SITES
1 Marcy Playground
2 Jackie Robinson Park and Brevoort Playground
3 Classon Playground
4 Tompkins Houses
5 Sumner Houses
6 Ingersoll Houses
PARTNER SITES
7 The Heights Casino
8 Eagle Academy Foundation
9 Bottom Line
10 Fort Greene Tennis Association
11 Brevoort Children’s Center*
12 Sumner Children’s Center*
13 Tompkins Children’s Center*
14 Howard Children’s Center*
15 Nat Azarow Children’s Center*
16 Weeksville Gardens Children’s Center*
17 Edwards L. Cleaveland Children’s Center*
* Partnership with Brooklyn Kindergarten Society (BKS)
KCTL Main Oce
14
11
17
2
10
8
5
4
13
12
7
9
6
3
1
16
15
Brooklyn: Where We Play
Letter from Executive Director ..................................................................................... 1
KCTL Programming: Smiles Across the Seasons ....................................................... 2
All Children Do Not Get the Same Opportunities .....................................................
Preparing for Life Ater KCTL ......................................................................................... 5
KCTL Impact ....................................................................................................................... 6
Inspiring Experiences ........................................................................................................... 7
Congratulations to the Class of 2023 .......................................................................... 8
Financials, Donors, and Team ........................................................................................ 9
KCTL 2023 Impact Report 1
n 2023, Kings County Tennis League (KCTL) focused on growing the impact of our programs and producing
meaningful outcomes for our students. Our free community tennis reached hundreds of youth living in and
around six NYCHA housing developments: Brevoort (Jackie Robinson), Ingersoll, Lafayette Gardens, Marcy,
Sumner, and Tompkins Houses.
The KCTL community is nearly 700 youth strong, in part because of our strategic partnership with the Brooklyn
Kindergarten Society. KCTL coaches provide enrichment activities at seven early childhood centers so that three-
and four-year old children can develop their physical literacy and ultimately join our tennis community when
they’re ready.
Because of our foundational support from the Ichigo
Foundation, more students than ever were part of
our Youth Employment Program, learning valuable
professional skills and exploring new interests before
setting out on their journeys ater high school and
beyond. KCTL employed 13 high school youth as “Site
Assistants,” all of whom reported that they gained good
or great career knowledge and skills, including time
management, job application experience, networking,
public speaking, and teamwork in a job setting.
In total, we delivered more than 1,900 program hours in 2023, including tennis, social emotional learning (SEL)
development, college readiness and application support, field trips, tournaments, and youth employment.
Every year KCTL organizes field trips designed to inspire future possibilities and acquaint youth with life outside
KCTL, while peeking into the professional lives their coaches have o the court, but this year went above and
beyond to expose our children to mentors and icons:
• One of our players was featured in the USTA’s 50th Anniversary of Equal Pay Celebration, appearing in
nationally televised commercials and meeting Billie Jean King as well as Michelle and Barack Obama on
opening night of the tournament.
• KCTL participants had the opportunity not just to meet, but also play with many of the best tennis players of the
past and present: Roger Federer, Iga Swiatek, Tracy Austin, Rohan Bopanna, Ben Shelton, and Belinda Bencic.
Our participants continue to grow ater their participation in KCTL has come to an end. Of our five program alumni
who graduated from high school in 2023, four are attending four-year colleges with our fith participant beginning
his freshman year in 2024. Two of the five young men are on their college’s varsity men’s tennis roster.
Our results are clear and our need to serve children historically excluded from these opportunities is more urgent
than ever. In 2024, with your support, we are committed to an ambitious goal of expanding our services to 1,000
children and doubling our support to our latter-age pathway programs: UpSwing, GoGirlGo, and Youth Employment.
This work could not be done without our generous supporters, incredible volunteers, dedicated sta, and
committed board members — and a special thank you to the USTA Foundation for their long and continued
support of this work. Thank you all for being a part of the KCTL community!
Sincerly,
Joe Ceriello
Executive Director, Kings County Tennis League
WELCOME
2 KCTL 2023 Impact Report
Community Tennis
Kings County Tennis League uses tennis to build community in Brooklyn. Our community tennis
brings youth from in and around public housing in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill, and Fort Greene
together with engaged sta and dedicated volunteer coaches from a variety of backgrounds.
KCTL’s community-focused tennis prioritizes social emotional learning as well as physical exercise
and tennis skills all year round.
KCTL Programming:
Smiles Across the Seasons
Aternoons Ater School • Jackie Robinson • Lafayette Gardens • Marcy
SPRING
WINTER
Saturdays • Ingersoll • Tompkins • The Heights Casino
KCTL 2023 Impact Report 3
UpSwing, Semi-Private Lessons, and Match Play
KCTL oers small group lessons, competitive tennis, and match play so that children have
opportunities to follow their individual tennis journeys.
UpSwing
UpSwing is an invite-only program for KCTL’s most committed students who show a passion for tennis,
desire to improve, and the potential to advance their game. UpSwing students receive more specific
and technical coaching, as well as opportunities to challenge themselves on the court.
Semi-Private Instruction
Semi-private lessons allow coaches to work with students on their form, footwork, and technique,
building on the instruction they get at other programming.
Match Play
Every Friday for much of the year, KCTL organizes supervised match play at Fort Greene Park, thanks to
the Fort Greene Tennis Association. Whether it’s singles or doubles, these supervised matches teach
students how to keep score, construct points, and compete.
Poised for Progress: What Comes Next?
UPSWING
• Marcy
• The Heights
Casino
• Jackie Robinson
SEMIPRIVATE
LESSONS
• Marcy
• Sumner
MATCH PLAY
• Fort Greene
FALL
Aternoons Ater School • Jackie Robinson • Lafayette Gardens • Marcy
Saturdays • Ingersoll • Tompkins • The Heights Casino
SUMMER
Summer Saturdays • Ingersoll • Jackie Robinson • Lafayette Gardens
Marcy • Sumner • Tompkins • GoGirlGo!
4 KCTL 2023 Impact Report
All Children Do Not Get the
Same Opportunities
*According to the 2022 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development low-income criteria for New York City.
OF KCTL STUDENTS
CAME FROM
HOUSEHOLDS WITH
LOW ANNUAL INCOME*
IN 2023, MORE THAN
85%
OF ENROLLED STUDENTS
IDENTIFIED AS BLACK/
AFRICAN AMERICAN
71%
Stepping Onto the Court Opens Up a World of
Opportunities
Children who are physically active have better life outcomes,
including lower health care costs, reduced health risks and
comorbidities, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes,
and one-third the rate of disability. Yet, sport and play opportunities
are not knocking on every child’s door in Brooklyn. Why?
Brooklyn has one of the worst income inequality gaps in the
United States, which can be attributed to the long-term eects
of policies and practices, most notably redlining. By restricting
access to housing, mortgages, and economic advancement for
Black Amercians while simultaneously facilitating access to those
same resources for white Americans, the federal government
established inequalities that are still acutely felt today.
The Change We Want to See
One of the less obvious long-term eects of these policies is
inequitable access to health services and wellness opportunities,
which disproportionately aects Brooklyn neighborhoods where
children who are Black or from low-income households live.
Considering the positive outcomes associated with physical
activity, access to play opportunities and organized sports are
vital tools for supporting healthy children. KCTL does this by
creating and renovating underused spaces for tennis play, and
bringing tennis equipment and coaches directly to young people
where they live.
But what KCTL oers goes beyond tennis. It oers the chance
to meet new people (for kids and adults alike), gain skills and
experiences, and form meaningful relationships that help
participants thrive on and o the court.
Resources and opportunities are at the root of good health. KCTL
is committed to building an inclusive and caring community,
and enriching the lives of Brooklyn youth through tennis,
relationships, and opportunities that help shape their future.
KCTL 2023 Impact Report 5
More Than Tennis
Over the last two years, we have put special emphasis on
supporting our oldest students as they prepare to graduate
from high school.
KCTL sta members have written letters of recommendation
for more than half of our high school seniors, for both college
applications and internships. Through our partnership with
Bottom Line, four of our seniors have received one-on-one
college counseling, resulting in acceptance at their top choice
schools and substantial scholarship awards.
Before students get that far though, KCTL oers unique
opportunities that help them conceive and achieve their future.
Youth Employment Program
In year two of the Youth Employment Program, we hired more
Site Assistants (youth assistant coaches), exposing them to
job applications, interview preparation, and professional
communications skills. All Site Assistants have progressed through
KCTL as players beforehand.
Preparing for Life Ater KCTL
Learned about Jackie
Robinson and changing
racial attitudes in sports
history at the Jackie
Robinson Museum.
Enjoyed a
behind-the-scenes look
at sports media at the
Bleacher Report and
journalism at
The New York Times.
Gained “hands on”
experience with coding
and careers in tech at
LeagueApps.
Professional and Educational Field Trips
Watched college tennis
and toured New Jersey
Institute of Technology.
Met and played with
the Binghamton
men’s tennis team.
6 KCTL 2023 Impact Report
KCTL IMPACT By the Numbers
The vast majority of surveyed young people met national social-emotional learning (SEL)
benchmarks at the end of the program*
100%
OF 11+ YEAR OLDS GREW
OR MAINTAINED 2+ CORE
SEL CAPACITIES
83%
OF 810 YEAR OLDS GREW
OR MAINTAINED 1+ CORE
SEL CAPACITY
IMPACT ON THE COURT:
KCTL TENNIS PROGRAMS
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM
1,270
TOTAL HOURS OF TENNIS
DELIVERED
222
NEW STUDENTS JOINED
KCTLIN THE PAST YEAR
TOTAL HOURS OF
OFFCOURT PROGRAMMING
EDUCATIONAL AND
CAREERINSPIRING
FIELD TRIPS
992
HOURS
SITE ASSISTANTS
WORKED
IN 2023
KCTL TRIPLED
THE NUMBER OF
PROGRAMS WHERE
SITE ASSISTANTS
WORKED
100%
OF SURVEYED SITE ASSISTANTS SAID THEY RECEIVED
GOOD OR GREAT CAREER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
COMPARED WITH 75% BEFORE THE PROGRAM
100% REPORTED THEY HAD GOOD OR GREAT
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT,
88% REPORTED THEY HAD
GOOD OR GREAT KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT CAREER OPTIONS,
COMPARED WITH 38% BEFORE
THE PROGRAM
75% REPORTED THEY HAD
GOOD OR GREAT KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT JOB INTEREST
EXPLORATION,
COMPARED WITH 38% BEFORE
THE PROGRAM
88%
75%
38% 38%
*According to 2023 Hello Insight SEL metrics findings.
KCTL 2023 Impact Report 7
INSPIRING EXPERIENCES
Uniqlo Around the World with Roger Federer
Thanks for Playing with On athletes Iga Swiatek and Ben Shelton
Asics Q&A with Belinda Bencic
USTA’s 50 Years of Equal Prize Money Celebration at the US Open
From training with legendary players to meeting world leaders, KCTL creates special opportunities for our
youth to learn that anything and everything is possible.
8 KCTL 2023 Impact Report
CONGRATULATIONS
to the Class of 2023
Where Are They Now?
AJ E.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Julius D.
University of Chicago
Isaiah F.
Virginia State University
Damian H.
SUNY Purchase
Jonathan D.
Gap year, coached for KCTL, planning to
attend college in Fall 2024
Congratulations to AJ and Damian on their first seasons of college tennis!
KCTL 2023 Impact Report 9
FINANCIALS,
DONORS, AND TEAM
Ambriel Floyd and Hawes Bostic
Cinven, Inc.
Clm Park Foundation
Eddie Martinez
Gabriel Rissman Memorial Fund
Heather and Sean Ward
Heisman Trophy Youth Development
Fund/New York Community Trust
Ichigo Foundation
Jefrey Robles
Jeremy Mindich
Julie Kahr and Brian Colton
Junior Tennis Foundation
Karen Tayeh and David Tayeh
Laureus Foundation USA
Michelle and Chris Ewan
New York City Department of Youth and
Community Development
Stadler Family Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Suzy Gillison
USTA Foundation
Board
Karen Levine, Board Chair
Michael McCasland, Founder
Danny Arkus
David Baxter
Will Benesh
Kyle Brown
Joe Ceriello
Kaitlyn Clark
Brian Colton
Olivia Elee
Deandrea Greer-Thomas
Nadine Kim
Shannon O’Sullivan
Jefrey Robles
TYree Stanback
Adam Stolz
Sara Taplitz
Karen Tayeh
Justin Wexler
Corbin Wong
Individuals/Family Foundations .................................................................................................$ 595,824.14
Corporations/Matching Gits ........................................................................................................$ 35,022.45
Grants .......................................................................................................................................................$ 372,081.03
Government Funding ........................................................................................................................ $ 10,982.00
Contractual Services .........................................................................................................................$ 15,660.00
Total Revenue ....................................................................................................................$ 1,029,569.62
Total Tennis Operations .................................................................................................................. $ 516,588.38
Total Development ............................................................................................................................ $ 412,490.98
Total Management .............................................................................................................................$ 83,265.37
Total Expense ....................................................................................................................$ 1,012,344.73
Special Thanks to our Major Supporters
TEAM
Junior Board
Catherine Chen
Neeraj Devulapalli
Kate Fischer
Sarah Gutman
Madison Hamburg
Andrew Minkovitz
Melody Qiu
Molly Ramsey
Henryetter Singh
Sta
Joe Ceriello, Executive Director
Dave Webley, Executive Advisor
Mara Mazza, Deputy Executive Director
Mohammad El-Haj Ahmad, Director of Business Operations and Development
Jamie Anderson, Senior Manager, Programs and Marketing
Rob Gerstman, Program Manager
Takaia Mallett, Events Manager
Marc Bushelle, Content Manager
Noah Lilienthal, Operations Associate
2023 FINANCIALS
10 KCTL 2023 Impact Report
1 Dock 72 Way, 7th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11205
kctl.org • [email protected]
Kings County Tennis League @kctennisleague
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