SEVEN AAYTE TEENAGERS COMPETING IN NATIONAL USTA CLAY COURT TOURNAMENTS

PHILADELPHIA, PA, July 13, 2007 – Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (AAYTE) will be well represented in National USTA Clay Court Tournaments this week (July 15-23) by seven talented and bright teenagers who are participants in tennis and academic programs at AAYTE, 4842 Ridge Ave. in Philadelphia's East Falls section.

“Our kids are competing at very high levels in their age groups against many of the top players in the country,” said Tina Tharp, AAYTE's acting Executive Director. “Their participation in these USTA tournaments is part of their development in building a foundation for bigger days to come.”

Anna Mamalat, 13, of Northeast Philadelphia, ranked third in USTA Middle States G14s and a student at the Louis Farrell School, will be competing in the National 14 Clay Court Tournament at Plantation, FL.

Devi Jadeja, 14, of Bala Cynwyd, ranked 14th in USTA Middle States G16s and a student at Lower Merion High School will be competing in the National 16 Clay Court Tournament in Virginia Beach, VA.

Jason Sisti, 14, of Yardley, ranked ninth in USTA Middle States 14s and a student at Pennwood Middle School, will be competing in the National 14 Clay Court Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Dylan Kady, 15, of Upper Holland, ranked third in USTA Middle States B16s and a student at Council Rock South High School, along with Harrison Abrams, 16, of Radnor, ranked 10th in USTA Middles States B16s and a student Harriton High School, will be competing in the National 16 Clay Court Tournament at Delray Beach, FL.

Carlin Murray, 17, of West Philadelphia, ranked fourth in USTA Middles States B18s and a student at The Haverford School, and Tommy Meyer, 17, of Bernville, PA, ranked 16th in USTA Middles States B18s and a student at Conrad Weiser High School, will be playing in the National 18 (and under) Clay Court Tournament at Delray Beach, FL.

Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education ( www.ashetennis.org ), founded in 1952, 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 young people ages 4 to18, mostly coming from underserved, low-income communities. The new $12.5 million AAYTE Center is dedicated exclusively to serve children, the only facility of its type in the country. AAYTE's principal sponsor is Advanta. Additional support comes through foundations, corporate, public and private support.