About LYTA
The Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association (LYTA) is a charity organization dedicated to bringing the health and character-building benefits of the sport of tennis to children, especially those who would not normally be exposed to the game. The Mission of LYTA is stated as: “To provide vibrant youth programs that promote fun, a healthy lifestyle and life skills development through the sport of tennis”. Its Vision is: All youth will have the opportunity to participate and enjoy the benefits of tennis”.
The LYTA was established as a South Carolina charity in October 2013. It obtained its 501(c)(3) status with the IRS in 2014. It is an organized Community Tennis Association under the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and is also a chapter of National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) under the USTA Foundation, the charity arm of USTA. The LYTA runs after-school programs, with an emphasis on schools with low-income students. Academic learning is also provided along with tennis. It also runs summer camps, play days, and outreach programs. It provides grants to youth programs run by other providers. LYTA also gives support to Junior Team Tennis (JTT), a USTA organized team-based program for school children, and to the Elementary and Middle School League run by the Charleston Recreation Department.
The organization is led and managed through a volunteer Board of Directors, with programs and activities run by program managers and help from volunteers.