St. Louis Aces and DDTC win awards from USTA St. Louis District
During a USTA St. Louis District awards banquet Feb 2, 2007, the St. Louis Aces were honored as member organization of the year, and Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center was named facility of the year.
The Apted family, as well as Rick Zaegel, president of the DDTC Board, were present to accept the awards.
The Aces were recognized for outstanding service by clubs and other member organizations and set a standard in which all member organizations strive to achieve.
The Aces not only were honored for their service to the community, but for donating facilities for amateur tournaments, giving courts for free clinics to the public, involvement and support of programs and maintaining an active tennis program.
Aces General Manager Danielle Apted was praised for her hard work and efforts in bringing top-ranked tennis professionals from around the world for seven matches in July and creating theme nights, such as Bring Your Dog to the Match and Support Our Troops Night, to interest a wide range of groups and organizations to the game of tennis.
The Aces are the only team in World TeamTennis that offers a free tennis clinic to children ages 6 to 16 before every match. Children not only get instruction from local tennis pros, but get a free racquet suited to their size.
Apted is adament about giving back to the community, which is why every match night has one or more featured charities. Some of those non-profit organizations that benefitted from partnering with the Aces include Habitat for Humanity, Food Outreach, Mentor St. Louis, Animal House Fund, Leukemia and Lyphoma Society, Women's Sports Foundation and USO.
Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center was honored with Facility of the Year and was recognized for outstanding tennis facilities. The center, located in Forest Park, was nominated based on overall layout, court surface and lights, accomodations, aesthetics, and amenities.
More than $1 million has been spent on resurfacing, lights and canopies on the courts. The facility includes 18 lighted tennis courts, 1 stadium court and a clubhouse containing a pro shop and men's and women's locker rooms.