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Who We Are

Mission & History

Our Mission Statement

Set Point Tennis Organization impacts the lives of young people of diverse background, thereby developing their tennis skills into a life-long leisure activity that enhances life skills of patience, self-discipline and critical thinking.

History

Set Point Tennis Founder/President Michael Murphy speaking about the History, Development and Growth of Set Point Tennis

Set Point Tennis Organization (SPTO) was a vision developed by Michael Murphy to become a full-service tennis provider by filling a void in tennis in Berks County, Pennsylvania and the City of Reading, Pa.  Refer to the "Who We Are" section under the "See We Get Letters" and read the letters from Mark Kritz, former BCTA, President.  SPTO initially hosted numerous tennis tournaments to give players of all levels the opportunity to play and grow the game of tennis.  SPTO was able to build interest in tennis through tennis tournaments.  SPTO in year 2009, hosted the largest to date Junior Team Tennis League in Berks County, combining a total of 210 boys and girls from ages 12 to 18.  Michael Murphy in year 2010 received the USTA/MS Junior Team Tennis Coordinator award and was nominated for the national Junior Team Tennis Coordinator Award.  

SPTO in year 2010, hosted a Junior Tennis Clinic with a total of 150 youth in five different school districts in Berks County.  The Junior Tennis Clinic's gave players ages six to fourteen the opportunity to have fun and receive tennis instruction. Refer to the "Junior Tennis Clinic" section under the "What We Do". The Junior Tennis Clinics offered tennis to youth in areas of Berks County that traditionally did not offer the sport. Through the Daniel Boone High School/Amity Township Clinic, SPTO provide tennis instruction to 79 youth, refer to Letter from Amity Township in the "What We Do Section" under "We Get Letters".  SPTO was instrumental in providing the framework and structure for Daniel Boone High School to implement a High School Tennis program.  Go to the "News & Event" section scroll down to the Reading Eagle Newspaper article titled:  "Amity Start's Tennis Program at Daniel Boone High School".  SPTO implemented the structure and framework for hundreds of youths of all ages to play tennis in the City of Reading and Berks County. Through this framework and structure SPTO was the catalyst for other City of Reading and Berks County Tennis programs to develop.

Although having re-energized tennis in Berks County with Tennis Tournaments, Junior Tennis Clinic's and a Junior Team Tennis League, SPTO's main passion and higher calling was to provide tennis instruction to inner city youth who traditionally where not afforded the opportunity to play.  SPTO also wanted to provide inner city youth with LifeSkills Mentoring instruction to assist in educational, career and nutritional guidance.  Through this endeavor SPTO partnered with the Olivet's Boys & Girls Club Police Athletic League (PAL) of Reading to provide LifeSkills and Educational instruction to over 1000 youth volunteering over 500 pro bono hours.  See Olivet History Letter & Christine Bartlet Letter.  See "News & Event" section: Reading Newspaper Article titled: "For PAL tennis players, it's game, set, life".  Also see PBS 39 T.V in the "What We Do" section under Oilivet Boys & Girls Club, video special featuring SPTO PAL program and tutors.  SPTO has provided LifeSkills and Tennis instruction to youth of the Childers's Home of Reading and Salvation Army of Reading, providing over 500 pro bono hours and serving over 1000 youth.

SPTO saw the need in the City of Reading to use tennis and LifeSkill's as a conduit to help at-risk youth use critical thinking, self-esteem, and self-discipline to lessen the opportunity for youth to drop-out of school, succumb to chemical use and possibly commit crime.  See "News & Event" section Reading Eagle News Paper Articles "Tennis Program Introduces Kids to Role Models" featuring Pennsylvania Senator Judy Schwank and "Reading Boys Trade Ankle Monitors for A Life with Possibilities."

SPTO will be partnering with local law enforcement authorities to open a Teen Court to give youth a second opportunity in life to correct errant behavior prior to being arrested and charged. SPTO in year 2020 will be working with youth who have Autism.  See our prior work with Autism youth in the "What We Do" section under the "Autism Youth Educational & Tennis section".  Any donation you can give to help SPTO provide needed services to youth would be greatly appreciated.

 

Our Impact This Year

  • People Helped

    1500

  • Volunteer Hours

    500

  • Dollars Raised

    100000

  • Program Participants

    500

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