The Princeton Tennis Program (PTP), a non-profit tennis organization serving the greater Princeton community, announces plans to celebrate its 60th anniversary at it’s annual signature event, the Princeton Tennis Classic, June 4-5 at the Eve Kraft Community Tennis Center and the Community Park Tennis Complex. 

The PTP has been dedicated to providing tennis instruction year-round to children and adults without regard to age, ability, or financial status since 1954. The program has grown in the last six decades from its humble roots in a backyard tennis court of its founder, Eve Kraft, to a multi-venue organization with nine full-time tennis pros serving 6,000 aspiring and experienced players each year. By subsidizing lesson fees and providing scholarships to players who cannot afford to pay, PTP encourages broad-based community participation.

“Inclusiveness has always been at the core of our mission. We want to reach people who would have never considered playing tennis before,” said Gwen Guidice, executive director of PTP. In addition to offering group instruction to beginners through advanced level tennis players from age 3 and up, the PTP also provides special programs to help encourage new players to pick up a racquet and discover the joy of tennis. “A major part of what makes PTP so impactful is our outreach to the diverse members of our community. We offer senior classes, an autism program, wheelchair tennis, and physical education programming,” said PTP Board Chair Mike Finklestein. He notes that many of these programs are provided with financial aid or scholarships, making the courts accessible to all.

This year, PTP is also offering two scholarship awards: The Bayard Jordan Memorial Scholarship Award, which allows one junior player to attend PTP’s Tournament Training Camp over the summer at no cost; and The Larisa Vaynberg Memorial College Scholarship Award, which awards $1500 to a graduating high school senior. Winners will be announced at the Princeton Tennis Classic on June 4th.

PTP operates from its flagship tennis facility, The Eve Kraft Community Tennis Center (formerly Princeton Indoor Tennis Center) on Washington Road, and from two other satellite locations: the tennis courts at Community Park in Princeton, and Veterans Park in Hamilton. There are plans to further expand the reach through increased school programming, new partnerships, education, apprenticeship program, and more scholarships.

Information on the 31st Annual Princeton Tennis Classic, a two-day event with dinner and awards on the evening of June 4th, and a non-elimination doubles tournament for women, men, and mixed teams on June 5th, can be found at www.ptp.org/ptc-information. For more information on Princeton Tennis Program, visit www.ptp.org or call (609) 520-0015.