USPTA members are active fundraisers in their communities, using tennis as a vehicle for helping others. Through Lessons for Life™, the USPTA encourages this activity and tracks some of the impact that tennis professionals have on local and national charities.

Since 1999, USPTA members have raised more than $52 million in donations.

While Lessons for Life™ is officially celebrated in October, USPTA members run fundraisers year-round in a variety of forms, such as tournaments, pro-ams, auctions, black-tie dinners, and clinics. In their reports, individual USPTA members have indicated that they have been doing fundraisers for the same charities for years. Others have been motivated to organize new fundraisers  and, in at least one case, co-found a nonprofit foundation because of hardships that have struck members of their own tennis communities.

"Our members continue to stay committed to raising money for important charitable causes, while at the same time bringing their communities together through these efforts with tennis," said Diane Selke, who is the Lessons for Life™ chair, a USPTA Master Professional and head tennis professional at Valley Country Club in Centennial, Colo.

Benefiting charities have included ThanksUSA, American Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Scripps Stevens Cancer Center and many smaller, local charities.

Members of the public may find a fundraiser to participate in by contacting a USPTA-certified Professional or Recreational Coach, or by locating a USPTA member through Find-a-Pro on this website.

Pros: Click here to register your event.

For more information about Lessons for Life™, contact uspta@uspta.org .