COMMUNITY CHANGEMAKERS TAKE CENTER COURT AT ANNUAL USTA MID-ATLANTIC FOUNDATION GALA

Host Malika Andrews Leads Celebration Recognizing the Power of Tennis
Funds Raised Directly Support Programs Making Tennis Accessible to All in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Photos + Video Available HERE

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation brought together leaders in tennis, sports, philanthropy and community advocacy on Saturday, November 14 for its annual Tennis Creates Gala, held at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner in McLean, VA. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning sports journalist and host of ESPN's NBA Countdown, NBA Today and primetime tennis coverage Malika Andrews, the evening celebrated influential changemakers in the sport and showcased the transformative power of tennis.

The gala raised a half a million dollars to support the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation's vision to make tennis available and accessible to every community in the region and will fund key programming, including Girls Rule the Court™, Jr. Player Scholarships, Facility Restoration Grants, Community Engagement Grants and more.

Over 300 guests were treated to a moving program and awards ceremony showcasing the many ways tennis changes lives and builds community. Highlights from the evening included:

• USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, reminded the audience of the significance of the evening, opening the program by saying, "Tonight is a celebration of everything tennis creates: confidence, connection, health, and opportunity. And it is a celebration of all of you, the community that makes this work possible."

• Malika Andrews showcased her interview skills during the program and sat down for an inspiring chat with two young women from Girls Rule the Court program. Launched in 2022, the program has empowered over two thousand girls in the Mid-Atlantic in communities across Maryland and Virginia including Baltimore, Howard County, Alexandria, Charlottesville, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Richmond.
   
• Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (retired), the 63rd Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, was honored with the 2026 Tennis Creates Impact Award for his distinguished leadership and dedication to fostering character, leadership and well-being through tennis. Though not in attendance, Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis shared a quote about his friend, saying: 'Admiral Buck is as fine a leader as ever wore our nation's uniform. Thank you for recognizing his team-building spirit and the link to tennis. He's as fine a representative of your celebration's values as could be found.'"

• The Gala also recognized six outstanding leaders who have had a significant impact on tennis across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and eastern/southern West Virginia.

• Adult Leader Award: Leigh Ann Jackson | As a Girls Rule the Court™ (GRTC) coach at Groveton Elementary School, Jackson has served 130 students over five seasons in the Title I Route 1 community. Her dedication extends far beyond the court; she spearheaded fundraisers to sustain the initiative and tirelessly advocated for its expansion to a new location in Hybla Valley.

• Youth Leader Award: Gabrielle Berg | A 17-year-old Mid-Atlantic junior tennis player, Berg founded a Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun, a volunteer organization providing free tennis clinics for individuals with special needs. Through a partnership with the Arlington YMCA, she ensures these empowering, wellness-driven clinics run year-round.

• Community Champion Award: Dr. Ellen Markowitz | A lifelong tennis player, coach and founder of PowerPlay NYC, a nonprofit educating and empowering girls through sports, Markowitz was instrumental in developing the GRTC curriculum used across the Mid-Atlantic today. She continues to champion the physical and emotional benefits of the sport as an active GRTC coach in Charlottesville.

• Provider Champion Award: James Skinner | Skinner is a teacher and boys varsity tennis coach at Monacan High School, but his philanthropic impact spans the entire city. As head coach for Rising Stars Academy, a partnership between the Richmond Tennis Association and Richmond Parks and Recreation, he provides free tennis programs for youth who might not otherwise have the chance to pick up a racquet. Over the past eight years, the program has grown from a handful of participants to more than 50 players. Skinner also organizes Junior Team Tennis squads to keep kids engaged, with one recent graduate heading to play collegiate tennis at the University of Mary Washington this fall.

• Coach of the Year Award: Khoi Truong | The head tennis coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Truong fosters a positive environment that inspires players to improve mentally, physically and emotionally. Also serving as a tournament director for major junior events, he consistently promotes sportsmanship, well-being and personal growth during both practices and matches.

• Tennis in the Classroom Award: Janelle Nichols | As the Director of Programs & Partnerships for the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF) and co-founder of Playmakers Collective, Nichols provides invaluable consulting to sports-based youth programs and nonprofits. At WTEF, she seamlessly blends academic enrichment, STEM programming and life skills into tennis instruction for students in under-resourced neighborhoods across Washington, DC.

For more information about tennis programs available in the Mid-Atlantic region, or to donate, visit: ustamidatlanticfoundation.org.

Photos and b-roll clips from the 2026 Tennis Creates Gala are available here.

About the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation
The USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits across D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and eastern/southern West Virginia. Guided by core principles of Community, Character, and Well-Being, the Foundation reached more than 114,500 youth in 2025 through tennis programs—including nearly 70,000 students through school-based initiatives. By investing in public facilities, youth scholarships, and character development, the Foundation is working toward its vision of "tennis in every community." Learn more at USTAMidAtlanticFoundation.org

SOURCE USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation