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The “Florida Tennis” license plate will be served next May.

The USTA Florida Section Foundation, the charitable arm of USTA Florida, announced that the “Florida Tennis” specialty license plate was signed and approved by Governor Charlie Crist on May 28.

The “Florida Tennis” specialty license plate becomes the first tennis license plate in Florida. The purpose of the license plate is to assist the USTA Florida Section Foundation in its efforts “to improve the health and quality of life of Floridians through tennis” with revenue generated by the license plate.

“Research indicates that 2 million people play tennis in Florida,” said Doug Booth, USTA Florida executive director. “It is great promotion for the sport of tennis and is exciting that players will now have the ability to show their love of the game by purchasing a Florida tennis license plate.”

Founded in 2004 by the USTA Florida board of directors, the USTA Florida Section Foundation will use purchases from the new tennis license plate to provide financial assistance in the renovation and building of quality public tennis facilities so that children and adults of all ages can enjoy tennis as a lifetime sport.

Some 90 percent of the proceeds from annual user fees will go for grants back to the community, including funding to operate youth tennis programs and adaptive tennis programs for special populations of all ages and for building, renovating and maintaining public tennis courts.

“With all the work of the Florida Section Foundation, it’s a tremendous opportunity to support tennis in Florida and help everyone at all income levels,” said Jean Mills, USTA Florida Section Foundation president. “The foundation is leaving a legacy with every purchase of the plate because it’s forever supporting tennis. The money raised will impact children, adults, communities and facilities for generations to come.”

The specialty license plate will be available for statewide purchase by tennis fans and community supporters no later than May 28, 2009 as mandated by law; however, the foundation anticipates it will be available at the end of 2008 or early 2009.

The license plate, which has the word Florida at the top, with words “Play Tennis” at the bottom, will be available at local tax collector’s office on Winterberry Drive. Motorists renewing their license plates will be able to ask for the tennis plate.

“Revenues generated from the specialty license plate will supplement shrinking tax support for recreation programs in Florida and will ensure that the next generation of children and adults will have access to quality public tennis facilities and programs,” Booth said. “Tennis is on the rise, and we want to keep it that way.”