The Gilchrist Foundation is Helping Serve Up Year-Round Tennis to Siouxland

For years anyone in Siouxland interested in playing tennis year-round would have to travel to tennis facilities in Sioux Falls, Omaha or other large Midwest communities. Now, thanks in part to the Gilchrist Foundation, Siouxland tennis enthusiasts have a local place to play. 

Last year the Gilchrist Foundation pledged a $10,000 1:1 Challenge Match to the Siouxland Tennis Foundation to help it build an indoor tennis facility. The First Serve three-court, indoor facility opened in late-November 2019.

The facility is located on Riverview Drive in Scenic Park in South Sioux City, Neb. It features three hard courts, state-of-the-art LED lighting, is climate-controlled for year-round playing, has USTA and NCAA competition-approved dimensions, micro-cushioning built into the courts for joint comfort and an area to watch play, lessons and competitions. The facility is also handicap-accessible and includes wheelchair tennis access.

Memberships for First Serve are available but are not required to play. Although, members receive lower court rates and can reserve courts farther in advance than non-members.

The Siouxland Tennis Association’s goals for the facility include:

  • Introducing kids to the USTA’s proven 10 and under program

  • Providing need-based scholarships and fee structures

  • Hosting league play, youth and adult tournaments

  • Allowing high school and college practices and matches when outdoor play is prohibited

  • Providing Siouxland’s first wheelchair tennis access

  • Supporting Special Olympics tennis

  • Expanding the number of courts as demand grows

A Challenge Match for a capital campaign is given to organizations that have renovation or expansion projects, with preference given to stimulate matching funds. It is just one type of grant the Gilchrist Foundation awards. The foundation also awards endowment grants to promote healthy endowments with board participation, program grants to enhance existing projects and one-time micro-grants up to $5,000. The Gilchrist Foundation has made about 55% of its total grants to endowment and capital campaigns. 

The Gilchrist Foundation does not accept any unsolicited applications for funds, but makes grants to pre-selected charities which have been invited to apply based on the perceived match of both organizations’ missions. If your organization wishes to be considered for invitation to apply for grant, you can submit a REQUEST FOR INVITATION form to start the process. The annual grant cycle begins in April, with consideration of invitations for grant application, and ends in mid-July with the announcement of awards.

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