MAKE HISTORY WITH FIRST-EVER TENNIS LICENSE PLATE IN FLORIDA

The new State of Florida Tennis License plate was formally accepted at a meeting of the Florida Cabinet on Sept. 30, 2008 at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. Electra Theodorides-Bustle, Executive Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) respectfully submitted the plate on behalf of the USTA Florida Section Foundation. Gov. Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum, and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, unanimously approved the Florida Tennis specialty license plate, which becomes the first tennis license plate in the state of  Florida. 

 “On behalf of the USTA Florida Section Foundation and USTA Florida, we are very excited about the possibilities that the revenue from the license plate will bring to the citizens and the visitors of Florida for many years to come,” said Linda Curtis, Director of Community Tennis, USTA Florida. “Ninety percent of earnings from annual user fees will be used for grants back to the community.”  Individuals who purchase the license plate will not only be a part of tennis history in Florida, but will have an opportunity to show their love of the sport and feel good doing it — knowing that they are giving back to their communities.

“With the foundation’s mission “to improve the health and quality of life for all Floridians through tennis” we will now have even more opportunities for children and adults of all ages and all abilities to learn and play tennis at quality facilities across the state,” said Jean Mills, USTA Florida Section Foundation President and Director of Tennis, Polo Club Boca Raton. “The proceeds of the Play Tennis license plate will allow the foundation to assist other non-profit organizations so they can create tennis programs for our Florida youth, operate tennis programs for people with special needs of all ages, and for the building and renovating of quality public tennis facilities.” Tennis is the fastest growing traditional sport in the United States and with 2 million players in Florida alone, final Cabinet approval for the specialty plate ensures that USTA Florida and the Section Foundation will help provide the infrastructure of tennis courts and quality programs on those courts to match the future growth of tennis. 

 “The exciting possibilities of this accomplishment by the Florida Section Foundation are huge,” said Celia Rehm, past president of USTA Florida. “We are asking the multitude of tennis players and tennis enthusiasts in Florida to continue to show their passion for tennis and help us expand the visibility of the tennis brand exponentially by purchasing a Play Tennis specialty plate.”Designed by USTA Florida League Tennis Assistant, Dona Garcia, “Play Tennis” specialty license plate is now available for purchase at your local Department of Motor Vehicles.  Renew or switch your license plate at any time by visiting the DMV! 

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Established in 1949, USTA Florida is a section of the United States Tennis Association. It is a not-for-profit volunteer organization with more than 49,000 members, 1,000 organizational members and a $3.3 million budget. As the official governing body of tennis in Florida, USTA Florida operates from an executive office in Daytona Beach with 27 staff members and more than 600 volunteers throughout the state working towards a mission to promote and develop tennis in Florida. To learn more about USTA Florida, visit our web site: www.ustaflorida.com.