SERVING UP GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY
We’re proud to uplift these Chicago organizations that embody the spirit of Billie Jean King’s activism—shattering glass ceilings and leveling up the playing field for athletes and individuals of all identities.
Center on Halsted advances community and secures the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ people of Chicagoland and throughout the Midwest. Multiple events and programs occur in the Billie Jean King Recreational Hall each week including pickleball, volleyball, and community events. centeronhalsted.org
Serve & Return Chicago funds youth tennis programs in Chicagoland’s underserved communities. We believe that tennis is an inclusive, life-long source of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The outstanding programs we support provide equipment, education, instruction and fun competition in safe environments. Through tennis, our children learn critical life skills such as hard-work, self-reliance and compassion. We set them up for success—both on and off the courts! serveandreturnchicago.org
At Girls in the Game, every girl finds her voice, discovers her strength and builds confidence through fun and active sports, health, and leadership programs. In partnership with schools and community centers, participants can try a variety of sports like soccer, lacrosse, yoga and volleyball in a friendly, non-competitive environment while also learning about important health and leadership topics like self-advocacy and positive body image. Girls in the Game programs include after school programs, a summer camp, clinics, one-time programs and teen programs, providing a safe space for girls to go when school is not in session, primarily on the south and west sides of Chicago where there is the highest need for all-girl programming. girlsinthegame.org
On behalf of 500,000 LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, Equality Illinois and the Equality Illinois Institute brings the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power across Illinois, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. Equalityillinois.us
Our mission is to provide Chicago’s underserved youth with an enriching safe-haven and positive pathway to college through a community-based tennis and academic enrichment program. We strive to introduce as many underserved Chicago youth as possible to tennis, with the intention of guiding them down a pathway to college through the attainment of a college tennis scholarship and sustained excellence thereafter in whatever endeavor they pursue. XS Tennis is open to everyone. No child is left behind. xstennis.org
The ball’s in your court! We challenge you to live a life like Billie Jean King.
How will you blaze a trail for equality and make a difference in your community?