A Journey of Empowering Youth through Tennis and Transforming Lives
Our Story
Welcome to Tennis Outreach Programs (TOPs), a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing young lives through tennis. Founded in 2003 by Marceil Whitney, TOPs emerged from a heartfelt desire to give back to the community by reaching disadvantaged and at-risk youth. We believe in the transformative power of tennis to provide a pathway to success for all kids, regardless of their economic circumstances.
Building Futures with Every Serve
TOPs Founder Marceil Whitney has coached and mentored youth of all ages and abilities during her celebrated 50-year tennis career. Driven by Marceil's inspiration, TOPs reaches 3,500 youth annually at Eastside Tennis Center and beyond. Read full bio here.
Our Founder
Our programs are housed within the vibrant Eastside Tennis Center (ETC), a full-service tennis facility that caters to players of all ages and skill levels. Here participants can engage in a variety of activities, including adult lessons, group classes, private coaching, USTA teams, and even pickleball. While ETC supports a broad community of tennis enthusiasts, its core mission is to make tennis accessible for all youth.
Our Home: Eastside Tennis Center (ETC)
Since our establishment, TOPs has proudly touched the lives of countless youths, guiding them not only in enhancing their tennis skills but also in excelling in their personal and academic endeavors. We provide comprehensive tennis programs designed to foster physical, mental, and emotional growth in a supportive environment.
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TOPs delivers on our mission in many ways: through financial assistance, partnerships with elementary schools for before/after school lessons, Adaptive Tennis for special needs, seasonal employment opportunities for junior coaches aged 14 and older, and enrichment events with local non-profits. These initiatives enable us to reach over 2,500 unique youth annually, made possible by the support of our generous donors, volunteers, and community. To learn more, visit our Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 reports
Community Impact
Join Us
While many know ETC for its welcoming facility and adult programs, the heart of our mission lies with TOPs. We invite you to join us in this impactful journey as a participant, supporter, or volunteer. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of young people, inspiring them to achieve their fullest potential.
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Discover more about how you can contribute to our cause and help us write the next chapter in our story of community, resilience, and success.
Our Mission
Empowering youth for lifetime success through tennis, education, fitness and character development regardless of economic circumstance.
Our Core Values: S.P.I.R.I.T
Throughout all levels of our junior programming, we integrate the teaching of TOPs S.P.I.R.I.T core values.
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Sportsmanship: Accountable for one’s actions. Observing the rules correctly and truthfully.​
Perseverance: Determination to continue despite the physical and mental obstacles faced, both on and off court.
Integrity: Doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
Respect: Conducting oneself in a thoughtful and considerate way.
Inspiration: Actions speak louder than words. Lead by example.
Teamwork: Working together to achieve a common goal.
TOPs Impact
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Provides over $50,000 in annual financial aid.
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Partners with local schools to offer on-site classes
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Offers adaptive tennis programs for participants with special needs.
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Employs ~50 junior coaches in seasonal roles.
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Hosts enrichment events for the public.
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Serves 3,500 youth annually. Learn more in our Annual Report.
The ETC Advantage
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Year-round, affordable tennis and fitness for adults and juniors.
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Recreational programs for young players.
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High-performance training for competitive juniors.
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Tailored instruction for adult players of all levels.
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Offers USTA adult match play to encourage competition and improvement.
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Features six full-size courts for a complete tennis experience.
