Citi, title sponsor of the 2015 Citi Open® Tennis Tournament, will host a fun-filled Citi Kids program in collaboration with the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF) at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center on Monday, August 3rd at 10:30AM. The event will feature American tennis star, Sloane Stephens. They will be joined by 50 youth from the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF), a premier educational and tennis organization for underserved children in Washington, D.C.
Developed by Citi, Citi Kids is an educational and motivational community-based initiative for students located in the Washington, D.C. area. Citi Kids reinforces Citi’s commitment to make a positive impact in the communities it serves and aims to provide cultural, social, athletic and economic enrichment for the members of the WTEF. As the tournament’s benefactor, the WTEF is instrumental in identifying ways to ensure the continual athletic and educational success of its members, and Citi strives to aid to these efforts throughout the year.
Steve Johnson is an American professional tennis player who has achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 37 and won four ATP Challenger Tour tiles. Johnson played college tennis for the USC Trojans and won the NCAA Men’s Singles Championship his junior and senior seasons.
The Citi Open Kids Day Gallery
Citi Kids will begin with a program promoting the importance of financial literacy and saving for the future, as well as giving kids the opportunity to connect with pro-tennis talent on a one-on-one basis, discuss their career successes and challenges and collect unique tennis tips. Sloane will share her experience as a top-performing athlete on Tour, including tips on how to be successful in the classroom and on the court. The Citi Kids program will conclude with a one-hour tennis clinic for all program participants with Sloane Stephens.
This year Citi is also introducing a program that will directly impact the WTEF and engage both players and fans onsite. Each time a player or fan serves over a designated speed, on the court or in the Citi Booth respectively, Citi will make a donation to the WTEF to support essential year-round academic and athletic programs. Fans can get involved by visiting the Citi Booth on-site or cheering for those speedy serves on-court.
“Citi is committed to making a difference in the communities in which we do business, and programs like Citi Kids provide a meaningful and unforgettable experience for children all over Washington D.C,” said John Emling, head of Federal Government Affairs for Citi. “Similar to our mission of supporting clients in their journeys from ambition to achievement, Citi is focused on creating programs that help empower and enable underserved D.C. students to achieve their highest potential.”
The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF) was founded in 1955 as an organization designed to help disadvantaged youth through tennis. Since then, it has evolved into an organization that provides academic help to at-risk children, by helping them to apply the lessons learned on the tennis court in the classroom and beyond. Today, WTEF is a leader in the best practice of providing academic enrichment, supplemented by tennis and life skills instruction, as a means for developing the skills necessary to achieve academic and personal success.
“The Citi Kids program is a wonderful opportunity for the children involved with the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation to learn about the importance of financial education and hear from professional athletes the importance of perseverance, resilience, and optimism, both on and off the court.” said Eleni Rossides, President, Washington Tennis & Education Foundation. “Our kids are tomorrow’s leaders, and it is fantastic that Citi is investing in their futures as part of a solid commitment to the Washington, DC area.”
The Citi Open, the Capital Tennis Tradition is scheduled for August 1-9, 2015, at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. It is one of only 13 elite ATP World Tour 500-level events worldwide and the only one held in the United States. The Citi Open Tournament also features a WTA International Tournament since 2012, which provides fans the opportunity to watch simultaneous competitions of both world-class men’s and women’s tennis throughout the nine-day event. It is one of only four U.S. tournaments that include both men’s and women’s fields.
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