USTA Florida Inducts MaliVai Washington into Hall of Fame

USTA Florida continued its 75th anniversary with a special celebration at the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation (MWYF) on Monday, October 7. The milestone event highlighted USTA Florida’s dedication to the future of the sport, with a spotlight on the tremendous impact the MWYF has made in the Jacksonville community through their work empowering youth through tennis and education.  

The MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation has created tremendous opportunity for youth, using tennis as a vehicle for academic success and life skills development. In recognition of its extraordinary contributions, USTA Florida honored the foundation at this event, and the celebration included remarks from MaliVai Washington himself, reflecting on his journey from a Wimbledon finalist to a community leader. 

For his work in tennis both on and off the courts, USTA Florida inducted him into the Hall of Fame, which came as a surprise to Mal. “I am truly surprised, I was not expecting this,” he said. “Everything we’ve done at the foundation is to show the kids their full potential. I get a lot of recognition, my name is on the signage, but every single one of you who have volunteered, donated, or encouraged a kid, are part of this success story.” 

Mal gave his thoughts on the foundation’s impact on more than just those in the program. “I think there’s the ability to have exponential growth. We are impacting over 250 kids right now in our afterschool program,” he said. “But when they grow up and start their own families, you realize you’re having an impact beyond those individuals. The exponential impact that our students will have on their kids and their families, to me, is pretty special.” 

Some of the foundation’s current kids came up to the podium, praising Mal for impacting their lives. “I would like to thank Mr. Mal because he’s helped me educationally, and on the tennis court, he’s the reason I’m playing tennis today,” Kam said, the MWYF 2024 Student-Athlete of the year. 

On October 24, the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation is hosting its annual Champions for Children Gala. The Gala will celebrate the foundation’s achievements and ongoing efforts to inspire Jacksonville’s youth. For more information on the Gala and how to support, visit https://www.malwashington.com/gala-2024. 

Thanks to attendees at the October 7 event, a generous donation was made to the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, further strengthening its programs and outreach. This contribution showcases the shared vision of USTA Florida and the MWYF to create opportunities and make a lasting impact in the community. 

USTA Florida continued to be grateful for MaliVai Washington and his Foundation as they serve the city of Jacksonville both on and off the tennis courts. For more information on future 75th Anniversary events, visit ustaflorida.com/75th.  

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Written by: Jaret Kappelman, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for USTA Florida. Be sure to check out USTA Florida, the governing body of amateur tennis in Florida, offering tennis programs for all ages and ability levels. Photos and video courtesy of USTA Florida.