HCCTA gives a special holiday gift

Brad Humphrey, a former tennis player for Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School, was paralyzed last August when the stage collapsed during a concert he attended at the Indiana State Fair. In the months following the tragedy, Brad has displayed amazing strength and courage and has been an inspiration to many in the Indianapolis community.

He's already learning to play wheelchair tennis, and the Hamilton County Tennis Association wanted to recognize him for being a champion athlete and citizen. HCCTA donated $500 to Humphrey and his family to help cover his medical expenses. With the help of Carmel-based pro Rajeev Ram and former HCCTA board member Colin Atkinson, the organization also gave Humphrey, who plays the violin in his school orchestra, a one-of-a-kind holiday gift: a violin autographed by Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band.

Please visit our Facebook page to see photos of the presentation of the violin. Also, you can watch a WTHR news clip about the presentation.

EntouRAJ for Kids raises more than $9,000 for books, scholarships

The second annual EntouRAJ for Kids was a huge success! Thanks to generous support from sponsors and the Indianapolis tennis community, the event raised more than $9,000 for the Hamilton County Community Tennis Association's Elementary Reads and college scholarship programs.

This year's event was held Dec. 10 at Five Season Sports Club and featured a thrilling singles match between former Carmel High School tennis star Rajeev Ram and former NCAA singles champion Somdev Devvarman. Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings and nationally ranked wheelchair and junior players joined them for doubles matches. Read more.

Buy our "Champion Citizens" book series!

High school students and teachers worked together to create unique biographies of five amazing athletes for HCCTA's "Champion Citizens" book series. The books tell the stories of Arthur Ashe, James Blake, Billie Jean King, Gale Sayers and George Taliaferro, who overcame obstacles to succeed in sports and in life. HCCTA distributed these books to Indianapolis Public Schools third-graders this fall, and now, we're selling them to the public. "Champion Citizens: Series One" costs $25 for a set of five books. Buy your set here!