YOUTH PROGRAMS

Proceeds from The Boston Women’s Invitational Tournament support two worthy local tennis programs: The Charlestown Against Drugs Tennis Club and The Charlestown Community Centers Youth Tennis Programs.

The Stillman Tennis Center is home to The Charlestown Against Drugs (CHAD) Tennis Club. Founded by Tom Desmond, Nick Adams and Daniel Cayargue in 1990, the CHAD program has given hundreds of young boys and girls a chance to play tennis instead of hanging out on the streets, waiting for trouble to find them. The program instills values that serve the children well on and off the courts: sportsmanship, respect for others, responsibility and the importance of education.

What began as a way to keep kids out of trouble quickly grew into a serious program training some pretty serious talent. Before long the CHAD Tennis Club team was competing against (and beating!) seasoned teams from North Andover, Middleton and Buckingham, Brown & Nichols.

                         Early standouts and members of the inaugural team included