Overview

In 2007, MTEF was one of four National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) Chapters to receive a Ford Foundation grant to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to fund the USTA's pilot initiative, "Community Building Through Tennis.  "MTEF is one of only four  National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) chapters selected to participate in the pilot, following a year-long competitive process.

The Community Building Through Tennis Initiative seeks to use the sport of tennis and recreational facilities to build community in changing neighborhoods, promoting the roles of recreation and education as key community building strategies across race, class, gender and age.  Working out of the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club in the Sherman Park neighborhood, MTEF will use the grant to supplement its focus on education, concentrating on workforce development, entrepreneurship training and financial literacy courses for youth, teens and adults.

Adult Tennis Programming
MTEF and the Sherman Park Community Association have teamed up with Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club, Milwaukee County Parks, First Serve, USTA – Wisconsin District, MPS Division of Recreation & Community Services and the Badger Tennis Club to offer adult tennis lessons and USTA Metro Milwaukee League play.  To print a copy of the MTEF Summer Registration flyer click here.  To read more about adult programming click here. 

Adult Tennis Lessons
Participants meet on a weekly basis for one and one half hours for a total of six weeks.  Lessons include instruction, match play, and First Serve Life Skill development from certified MTEF instructors.  These lessons are designed for individuals who want to pick up tennis or further develop their tennis skills.  The lesson-only fee is $30 per six week session.  To register for tennis lessons contact Peter Dermody at the MTEF office at (414) 442-8195 or email him at pwdermody@gmail.com. 

USTA League Play
Thanks to a partnership with the USTA - Wisconsin District, MPS Division of Recreation and Community Services, Milwaukee County Parks, Sherman Park joins seven other Milwaukee area parks in forming the USTA Milwaukee Metro League.  The League is is a prime opportunity to get involved through a structured, yet friendly competitive environment.  Registration is available for those players who self-rate themselves as 2.5 through 4.0.

To register for the league participants must purchase a USTA membership at a special discounted rate, then contact Essie Herron, Metro League Coordinator, at (414) 228-0527 or eherron@mtef.com.  All players who take out a USTA membership will be elgible to participate in league play. Membership rates for 2008 are:

Membership	Regular Cost	Rebate	Total Cost
1 Year	$40	$10	$30
3 Years	$110	$55	$55
5 Years	$160	$80	$80

Youth Tennis Programming
MTEF and the Sherman Park Community Association have partnered with the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club, Milwaukee County Parks, Wells Fargo Bank and First Serve to deliver a FREE tennis, literacy, life skills and financial education program to any child who meets the requirements.

As an added benefit, all participants will be given a FREE Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club membership which will include a FREE dinner from 6-7pm.  The program will be held Tuesday's and Thursday's from 4-6pm.  First Serve Life Skills will be taught daily and the Wells Fargo Hands on Banking ® financial education program will be used during off-court sessions.  All participants will be asked to write an essay on Arthur Ashe and submit it to the National AAEC for the opportunity to win a FREE trip to New York City and the U.S. Open. 

Financial Education Overview
Everyone – kids, teens, young adults and adults – is interested in money and how to be a better money manager.  It's never too early, or too late, to gain new knowledge and skills to create a brighter financial future.  As a FREE community service, Wells Fargo Bank has provided their Hands on Banking financial education program to everyone involved with the Sherman Park initiative.  This informative, interactive, inspiring program offers customized instruction in English and Spanish for four age groups, from 4th grade through adult.

Adult Hands on Banking ®
The adult curriculum is a valuable resource for success in personal money management and it includes special sections on buying a home, investing, and starting and managing a small business.  The Wells Fargo Financial Education courses are FREE to all residents participating in the tennis program.

Youth Hands on Banking ®
The Hands on Banking ® curriculum for school-age students meets or exceeds national education standards for economics, financial literacy, mathematics, and English language arts.  Wells Fargo's young adult curriculum offers information about how to afford higher education, use credit responsibly, and become financially independent and self-sufficient.

The youth portion of Hands on Banking ® will be offered at the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-5:00 pm for participants.  The FREE classes will be taught by MTEF staff member Joseph Jones.

Academic Curriculum
In addition to the Wells Fargo financial literacy program, MTEF offers an academic component during our After School Program and in the Summer Tennis & Reading Program.  Both curriculums offer reading and the Arthur Ashe Essay Contest (AAEC).  These programs are administered by MTEF's Director of Education, Kathy Adelmeyer.  To see specific information on the Arthur Ashe Essay Contest go to our AAEC webpage.  To view and print forms see below.

Summer Reading Program
The summer readig program provides children with a minimum of one hour per day of reading, five days a week.  Participants are grouped according to age, tennis ability and reading level.  A customized reading curriculum is then followed.  Children enrolling in the first four weeks of the summer program are given the opportunity to participate in the Arthur Ashe Essay Contest (see below for a registration form).

After School TEAM Program
This invitational-only program draws the most motivated children from our Summer Tennis & Reading Program.  Selected children will be offered a school year twenty-six week comprehensive tennis, literacy, financial literacy and First Serve Life Skill program.  In addition, a Sherman Park Activities Outreach Coordinator (AOC) we be in weekly contact with children and their parents to over a pathway of services to the entire family.