Organizing for Youth Tennis in the Charleston Community – a Brief History
2005 and before (1980’s, according to the Post and Courier) – Peggy Bohne organizes the Tri-County Elementary and Middle School League, under the auspices of the Charleston Recreation Department. In 2006, the League has 6 teams playing. Since then the League has grown to over 100 teams with more than 2,000 kids playing. It is not associated with USTA though there have been discussions about making it a JTT program.
2005 and before – Courting Kids, an NJTL for inner-city youth, is organized by Peggy Bohne and Dolores Jackson. It runs camps and clinics for kids. In 2000, Courting Kids won the USTA Southern and USTA National NJTL Chapter of the Year Awards, and Delores Jackson received the Eve Kraft Award from USTA for Community Service. It is not a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
2008 – The Lowcountry Junior Tennis Association is registered as a Community Tennis Association (CTA) under the USTA. It was led by Lee Brockman, then Tennis Director at the Charleston Country Club. Under Joyce Harrington, it ran a JTT program for a few years but was not very successful. In 2009 it was incorporated in SC “to promote the growth of junior tennis in the greater Charleston area through the networking of a broad cross-section of tennis industry leaders in the area”. After Lee Brockman left the area, the organization was headed by Brian Burke. After the organization failed to file a 990 for three years, the IRS revoked its 501(c)(3) status. It no longer functions.
2009 – Discussions between Barry Ford of USTA and Charleston tennis advocates, including then CCSD Superintendent Dr. Nancy McGinley, lead to the formation of the Charleston Tennis Initiative. A plan is put together for introducing tennis in the schools to be managed by a new NJTL. However, it takes several years before the idea is formalized into the creation of the Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association.
2009 or before (Earliest 990-N on file is for tax year 2009) – The Charleston Lawn Tennis Association is formed by Peggy Bohne and Herb Rosner. It was to serve as the charity organization for activities envisioned by the Charleston Tennis Initiative. This organization still exists under that name and in 2014 they donated $11,000 to LYTA (as did LCTA). There was discussion about having them merge with LYTA but that did not lead anywhere. The organization is no longer active as a 501(c)(3).
2009 – The first Superintendent’s Cup is held. The event was held for five years.
2010 – A committee is organized to nominate Charleston in USTA’s Best Tennis Town contest. In addition to the comprehensive application, a high-quality video is put together which includes a talk by Dr. McGinley at the Superintendent’s Cup. Charleston’s entry wins the contest, beating out Richmond and Atlanta. The $100,000 prize is distributed to several entities, including the Charleston County School District. Some of the money is used to build 36-ft. courts at several elementary schools.
2013 – Under encouragement from Dr. McGinley, the Charleston Tennis Initiative is revived with the intention of putting together an organization to promote tennis in the schools and youth in general. Discussions were led by Kathy Lewis of CCSD. This led to the formation and incorporation of the Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association (LYTA) on October 31, 2013. Incorporators were Kathy Lewis as President, Ron Charron as Vice President/Secretary and Glenn Lewis as Treasurer. LYTA obtained its 501(c)(3) status in August, 2014. At that time, Board member Steve Zalinski, Tennis Service Representative for SC, organized and ran a 10 and under tournament circuit, which set the stage for April Gift, newly arrived from running a successful JTT program in PA, to organize and run a very successful JTT program under the umbrella of LYTA. JTT became independent of LYTA but receives some support from LYTA. LYTA runs school programs, camps and clinics. provides grants and scholarships, and runs junior tournaments, as well as an annual Teacher Appreciation Tournament.
2016 – The South Carolina Junior Tennis Foundation is established. According to its website, “The SCJTF serves as a light for those advancing players, and their families, who have the talent and desire to excel but may not have the means to pursue their dreams of going to college.” Headed by Jeff Wilson, formerly head of the MW Tennis Academy at the former Family Circle Tennis Center, it is no longer active and its IRS 501(c)(3) status has been revoked.