What is AdvantageCLE?
Advantage Cleveland Tennis and Education, Inc. (AdvantageCLE) is a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) program that is funded in part by the United States Tennis Association Foundation (USTAF), the USTA Midwest Foundation, and USTA Northeastern Ohio, as well as many local foundations, corporate sponsors and generous individuals. The main goal is to provide tennis and learning opportunities to children in urban areas, prevent the summer learning slide, and enhance the student's educational experience year-round. We currently offer three areas of programming year-round for students: our Summer Enrichment Camp, ACE After-School Program, and Weekend Tennis Clinics.
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Summer Enrichment Camp: AdvantageCLE provides a free eight-week summer program to children in the Cleveland area. More than 200 kids participate in the camp each summer and represent over 70 schools in the city. Tennis is the backbone of our instruction, and kids play up to an hour each day. Educational programming is also provided in daily rotations, and kids participate in fitness, wellness, literacy, STEM, and poetry slam classes. They are surrounded by caring high school and college-age students who act as role models and mentors.
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ACE After-School Program: AdvantageCLE also recently began our after-school ACE program in a local Hough elementary school- Mary B. Martin. Kids in grades 1-5 receive tutoring in literacy intervention, wellness, homework help, and tennis instruction. Reading skills are the main focus of this program, and students participate in indoor tennis provided by USTA's Red Ball curriculum from NetGeneration. This year, we also started the very first middle school club tennis program in the city of Cleveland, with a partnership with the Cleveland State University Men's Team. Four Hough/Ward 7 Schools are involved including Mary B. Martin, Wade Park, Daniel E. Morgan, and Willson Elementary. The hope is to continue to grow this program in other neighborhoods throughout Cleveland. We hope to empower students to reach their full potential on the court and in the classroom.
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Weekend Tennis Clinics: Our group lessons offer students an additional opportunity to continue to receive coaching throughout the year. We offer lessons for students ages 5-18 once a week on Sundays at Cleveland State University, taught by certified professionals and local college players. Students come from all over northeast Ohio to prepare to play on middle and high school team and compete in local tournaments.
Mission
Advantage Cleveland Tennis and Education’s mission is to provide Cleveland's youth with tennis, wellness, fitness, literacy, STEM, and poetry slam programs to promote hope, healthy living and productive futures.
Vision
Advantage Cleveland Tennis and Education will become a leader in urban youth development to build a foundation for lifetime achievement, academic success, and healthier children. We hope to transform the game of tennis to provide opportunities for youth in Cleveland.
Our Core Values
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Passion for teaching and learning
We strive to provide innovative, relevant and interactive education and sports activities that motivate and engage students so they might choose to live healthy, productive lives.
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Caring
We hold high regard for all involved in our organization. We are committed to one another, our staff, our students, our partners and the neighborhoods and communities we serve.
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Commitment to diversity
We teach and display behaviors that are respectful to all people regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation or economic status.
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Integrity in all we do
We strive to make every effort to maintain and uphold moral, ethical and honest principals in all our interactions.
The City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Clinic made our launch possible in 2010. Since then a number of committed individuals and companies have worked to grow and expand our services for the children in the Cleveland area by donating their time, talents and resources.
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Tennis was once a major part of the Cleveland community
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Cleveland hosted over 40 professional and amateur championships, four Davis Cup matches, and a professional Tennis team.
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Once over 120 public courts spanned the city, now fewer than 40 playable courts exist citywide.
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AdvantageCLE has grown to reach over 4,000 students in thirteen years.
We are on a mission to help build the future of tennis here in Cleveland. Please join us in our mission & donate today!
