ARTHUR ASHE YOUTH TENNIS & EDUCATION NAMED MUNICIPAL FACILITY OF THE YEAR

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Nov. 5, 2007 – Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education has been named “Municipal Facility of the Year” by Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) magazine in its current edition, the seventh annual “Champions of Tennis Awards” issue, which honors people and organizations from throughout the United States dedicated to improving the sport and business of tennis.

“AAYTE is not only an impressive physical structure, but the programs are beyond compare,” the magazine noted in the description of the new $12.5 million Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center at 4842 Ridge Ave. in East Falls.

“Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education is extremely pleased to be selected from the thousands of municipal tennis facilities throughout the country to receive this important ‘Champions of Tennis Award' from RSI magazine,” said Tina Tharp, AAYTE Executive Director. “This award is the type of recognition that tells us that our tennis, academic and Life Skills components are working to prepare today's children of Philadelphia for the challenges of tomorrow.”

RSI, the world's largest magazine geared toward the tennis industry, named winners in 16 other categories for its 2007 Champions of Tennis Awards.

Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education ( www.ashetennis.org ) is a national model for imaginative, public youth tennis and educational enrichment programs. Providing new opportunities to an at-risk and diverse population, AAYTE delivers first-class tennis instruction, fitness, health and nutrition training, equipment, tutoring, computer science, library services, along with its nationally acclaimed life skills curriculum to more than 10,500 young people ages 4 to 18, mostly coming from underserved, low-income communities. The AAYTE Center in East Fairmount Park is dedicated exclusively to serve children, the only facility of its type in the country. AAYTE's principal sponsor is Advanta. Additional support comes from foundations, corporate, public and private resources.