The LA84 Foundation, SCTA Foundation, and NJTL launched a successful Play Day in July at the iTennis Performance Center Whittier Narrows in South El Monte.

About 250 kids were in attendance for the event.

We were very fortunate to have Ken Flanagan as the MC who had a great time with the kids. We also had Bill Leong visiting from the USTA National Diversity and Inclusion Department, who commented that “it was nice to see Ken out with the kids as our MC, enjoying the event as much as the kids.”

It was a great day with music, fun, food, families and friends. According to Evan Smith, Manager of NJTL / Diversity & Inclusion for USTA SoCal, “It was a very successful day. We loved seeing all the kids on the court enjoying the event, and the parents were having as much fun as the kids. A great festive tennis day!”

Dee Henry, an NJTL instructor, added that “everything was very well organized and the kids loved the NJTL instructors and all the fun games.”

During the event, staff and participants learned that longtime USTPA Pro and NJTL instructor Park Cockerill would be retiring after 33 years of service. We want to thank him for all the years of NJTL support and mentoring so many kids during his tenure. We wish him the best of luck in his retirement years!

Thanks to all the NJTL instructors, parents, volunteers, SCTA Community Tennis staff for all their help during the summer season. This program without the support of the instructors and the support of LA84 Foundation, our strong community partner for 32 years, and of course the support of our NJTL families!