Albury McDonald’s and Albury Grass Courts unite in partnership with Youth of Tomorrow to deliver the first-ever Schools Future Fit Program in Albury, New South Wales.
The Schools Future Fit Program is being delivered to 250 school children who are scheduled to participate in the education program on 18 February as part of the national regional roll-out.
Students attending the program will also engage with 1987 Men’s Singles Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash who will be on court with the students to celebrate this significant partnership.
Co-founder of Youth of Tomorrow Pat Cash said: “Youth of Tomorrow are celebrating the Albury Grass Courts historical significance with the introduction of the Schools Future Fit Program and also provide local school children with the same opportunities bestowed upon our past tennis legends in the region.”
Tennis NSW will also be a key contributor to the national education program through the provision of funding and the coordination of the tennis program alongside nine accredited coaches on the day, ensuring kids develop their tennis skills and build social connections.
Schools Development Manager of Tennis NSW Patrick Landy said “We are thrilled to be partnering with Youth of Tomorrow, the Australian Tennis Foundation and the Albury Grass Courts to ensure students and the wider community have access to high quality, affordable tennis experiences.”
Franchisee owners of the Albury, Lavington and Wodonga Homemaker McDonald’s stores, Edward and Elisa Aldridge said: “This is a great event for Albury! We are so proud to partner with Albury Grass Courts and Youth of Tomorrow to provide access to this program for kids in our community who may not otherwise have the opportunity.”
The national education program is offered to students from low socio-economic backgrounds, and provides them with a new experience to grace the world-class tennis courts, for the first time, at Albury Grass Courts.
President of Albury Tennis Association Peter Penny said: “We have a long history of connecting with community through our love of tennis. It is an honour that Albury has been on the radar of Pat Cash and his team and we can’t wait to see him courtside to inspire a few hundred local children. We share the vision of our partners in getting tennis racquets in hands and giving the next generation an opportunity to play, grow and learn together. I’m very proud of our people for making this all possible.”
The fully funded Schools Future Fit Program delivers comprehensive life-skills, meets the objectives of the Australian Curriculum and is underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since inception, up to 13,000 school children have engaged in the program.
Chief Executive Officer of Youth of Tomorrow Umit Oraloglu said: “We are delighted to bring the national education program to Albury and we’re looking forward to supporting the local community beyond 2026.”
Participating students will also receive a gift bag containing a tennis racquet and tennis balls from the Australian Tennis Foundation and a water bottle with vouchers from Albury McDonald’s.
Additional funding will be made available to each participating school by the Australian Tennis Foundation through their ‘Kids Tennis Program’ where free tennis lessons will be provided at the school for the whole of Term 3.
