Nashville inner-city youth are learning the lessons of tennis as well as life, thanks to an after-school program founded by Vanderbilt University senior Jeff Berry. He is president of Mentor TennisSee, which brings at-risk children to the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center three times a week. In addition to receiving tennis instruction from amateur coaches, local tennis professionals and others, the youngsters get free academic tutoring from Vanderbilt students. Mentor TennisSee also uses the First Serve Life Skills program as part of its instruction. Berry will graduate in May but said the program will continue to grow, thanks to community and student volunteers and philanthropic support. For more information, click on www.mentortennissee.org.
Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu