Saint Paul Urban Tennis
Empowering Youth, One Swing at a Time
Our Journey From Humble Beginnings to a Bright Future
The Birth of a Vision (1991)
In 1991, a small group of dedicated tennis enthusiasts and community leaders came together with a powerful vision: to bring the transformative power of tennis to underserved youth in Saint Paul. With support from Northwest Tennis Patrons, Saint Paul Urban Tennis (SPUT) was born under the leadership of John King, Fred King, Sandy Martin, and a team of passionate volunteers.
Starting with just 125 youth at three sites - The Bucky Olson Courts at Saint Paul Central, El Rio Vista, and Dayton's Bluff - SPUT focused on diverse areas with low-income households where opportunities for youth were scarce. Little did they know that this modest beginning would grow into a movement that would touch thousands of lives.
Building Character On and Off the Court (1992)
A pivotal moment came in 1992 when Ernie Greene, a longtime community leader and tennis coach, joined the SPUT family. Merging the Martin Luther King Tennis Buffs with SPUT, Ernie brought more than just additional participants and funding - he instilled the core values of character and service that continue to define our organization today.
Expanding Our Reach (1997-2006)
As word spread about SPUT's impactful programs, our reach grew exponentially. In 1997, we established the Ernie Greene Scholarship Fund, investing in young leaders pursuing higher education. By 2006, our summer programming hit a record-breaking 3,000 youth participants, with 75 youth coaches at 27 sites across Saint Paul.
Nurturing Leaders for Tomorrow (2012-2018)
Recognizing the need for year-round development, we launched the Warrior Leadership Academy in 2012, providing indoor winter training and competition alongside crucial leadership and life development workshops. In 2013, we formalized our commitment to character building by embedding the SPUT S.P.I.R.I.T. (Service, Perseverance, Integrity, Responsibility, Imagination, Teamwork) curriculum into all our programs.
A New Home and New Horizons (2017-2020)
In 2017, we moved our headquarters to Eastview Recreation Center on the diverse east side of Saint Paul, deepening our roots in the community. This move sparked new initiatives:
- The Employment PLUS program (2018), pairing high school students with career mentors and providing workplace experiences.
- Academic Creative Engagement (ACE) camps (2018), combining tennis with off-court math, science, reading, and creative writing activities.
- Construction of 5 additional tennis courts at Eastview Recreation Center (2020), expanding our capacity to serve more youth.
SPUT Today: A Bright Future
Recognizing the need for year-round development, we launched the Warrior Leadership Academy in 2012, providing indoor winter training and competition alongside crucial leadership and life development workshops. In 2013, we formalized our commitment to character building by embedding the SPUT S.P.I.R.I.T. (Service, Perseverance, Integrity, Responsibility, Imagination, Teamwork) curriculum into all our programs.
Our Core Values
Inclusion
SPUT creates a social and learning environment that is safe, inclusive, and nurturing for kids of all races, religions, sexual orientation, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Character Development
SPUT focuses on social and emotional growth to prepare our students to be leaders on and off the tennis court through our SPUT S.P.I.R.I.T. curriculum.
Health & Wellbeing
SPUT builds, sustains, and nourishes the physical and emotional health of each participant by combining the activity of tennis with practical health information.
Pursuit of Excellence
SPUT encourages continuous improvement in all aspects of life – on the tennis court, in the classroom, or in the community.
Partnerships
SPUT values collaboration with families, schools, businesses, and nonprofits to best support the development of youth in our program.
Join Our Mission
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of our community to continue our mission. Your support helps us provide high-quality youth programming to kids across Saint Paul, regardless of zip code or income.
Together, we can empower the next generation of leaders, one swing at a time.