Serve the Future AZ Announces Their Annual Winter Tennis Tournament at Phoenix Country Club

Two-day community celebration raises funds to expand youth tennis and leadership programs across Phoenix.

PHOENIX, AZ (January 2026) — Serve the Future AZ, a woman-owned 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people through tennis, leadership, and life-skills development, invites the community to their signature fundraising event, the Serve the Future Winter Triples Tournament on Saturday, January 10, 2026 (10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.).

Serve the Future AZ’s mission is to use tennis as a catalyst for confidence, character, and opportunity; especially for youth who face barriers to access in under-resourced communities. Through on-court instruction and off-court mentorship, Serve the Future connects students with coaching, encouragement, and leadership experiences that help them thrive in school, at home, and in life.

Their students come from PXU District & Title 1 School with over 80% receiving free or reduced meals and 90% representing minority districts. Serve the Future provides no-cost programming for these schools and in five short years, the foundation has graduated over 1,000 students with 94% of them reporting feeling more confident during the program and 89% feeling a stronger sense of belonging.

“Our programs are about more than learning a sport,” said Leslie Banks, founder and executive director, Serve the Future. “We’re building confident, resilient young leaders—one serve, one lesson, and one relationship at a time. These January events are a powerful way for our community to understand the mission, meet the students, and witness the impact.”

Serve the Future is hosting an invite-only Meet & Greet event featuring the Serve the Future AZ students and confirmed fundraising sponsors on Friday, January 9th from 5:30–7:30 PM. This intimate evening gives supporters the chance to connect directly with the young people whose lives are being shaped through tennis, mentorship, and leadership development. Attendees will enjoy catered bites, signature drinks, and fun games like pop-up tennis, ping pong, and cornhole—all while learning how a sponsorship helps build brighter futures. Tickets are $100 for non-confirmed sponsors, and every dollar fuels opportunity, confidence, and growth for our students.

Prominent community leaders supporting or attending the event are Arizona Tennis Charities, Eddie Remme, LifeKind Health, Pivot Manufacturing, Garcia Family Foundation, cPacket Networks, Murphy Cordier Casale Axel PLC, Miracle Mile Delicatessen, USTA Hall of Famer, Carolyn Lane and Arizona State Senator Lela Alston.

State Senator Alston represents Legislative District 5, where Serve the Future operates their programs in the Isaac School District. “It makes me proud to see community outreach like this in my own district,” said Senator Alston. “Serve the Future is exactly what our students need right now—leadership, mentorship, and empowerment.”

Carolyn Lane, Serve the Future’s Winter Triples Tournament Honoree, shared her enthusiasm for the event. “As the tournament honoree, I’m proud to lend my support to Serve the Future and this incredible cause,” said Lane. “I’ve had the opportunity to play tennis with these students, and I can personally attest to how grateful and motivated they are—thanks to the foundation’s dedicated team of coaches, especially Coach Leslie Banks.

Carolyn Lane and State Senator Alston will kick-off the tournament on January 10th at the Phoenix Country Club.

Event Details

Saturday, January 10, 2026 — Serve the Future Winter Triples Tournament

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location: Phoenix Country Club, 2901 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85014

Register here: www.servethefuture.org/triples

Triples is fast, fun, and “organized chaos” in the best way—three players per side, constant movement, big laughs, and memorable points. Proceeds directly support Serve the Future’s youth programming. Teams must include at least one female. Players and supporters are also encouraged to add an optional donation during registration to further strengthen the program’s reach.

Sponsorship & Community Support

Serve the Future AZ welcomes event sponsors, in-kind auction donations, and individual contributions. Sponsorship support helps ensure consistent coaching, equipment, and programming for students year-round. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Sponsor link: www.servethefuture.org/sponsors

About Serve the Future AZ

Serve the Future AZ is a Phoenix-based, woman-owned 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to empowering youth through tennis, leadership, and life-skills programming. By combining athletic development with mentorship and personal growth, Serve the Future helps young people build confidence, discipline, and the belief that their future is full of possibility.

Media Contact:

Jeremy Rossbach, Marketing Director

Serve the Future AZ

410-428-4019 | jeremy@servethefuture.org

Website: servethefuture.org