CARSON, Calif. (February 13, 2019) – Some of the nation’s leading names in athletics and education are teaming up to be part of the world-class Carol Kimmelman Athletic and Academic Campus – envisioned as one of the largest and most extraordinary community-serving sports and education centers in America.

 

Spearheaded by the Kimmelman Family Foundation, the state-of-the-art Kimmelman Campus is expected to span more than 80 acres and feature up to 52 tennis courts, soccer and multi-purpose fields, and a state-of-the-art academic center with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focus. The USTA Foundation – the United States Tennis Association’s charitable arm – and the Tiger Woods-founded TGR Foundation will join with AEG, and the LA Galaxy to help support the landmark new complex in Carson, which will make its programs available at little or no cost to underserved local youth and families.

 

“We are delighted to announce such acclaimed and accomplished partners for the Carol Kimmelman Athletic and Academic Campus,” said Doug Kimmelman, President of the Kimmelman Family Foundation and husband of Carol Kimmelman. “They will be instrumental as we honor Carol’s legacy by helping children from underserved backgrounds access the facilities, coaches, teachers and curriculum needed to put them on a path to college and life success.”

 

The project is currently undergoing a public review process led by Los Angeles County, who owns the property where the new development is envisioned. The County Board of Supervisors is still completing an environmental review of the site, and is expected to consider a long-term lease for the project in late summer. If approved by the County, a groundbreaking is anticipated in early 2020.

 

Each partner organization will bring a world of experience and expertise to the Kimmelman Campus, which is slated to be the largest community tennis venue on the West Coast. The USTA Foundation foresees establishing the West Coast hub of the National Junior Tennis & Learning program (NJTL) at the campus. NJTL offers tennis programs, youth services and college scholarships to more than 200,000 underserved youth around the country each year. Additionally, the USTA Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) intends to move their headquarters to the Campus and USTA’s Player Development division, which works to develop world-class American players, expects to make the campus its West Coast center of operations.

 

On the academic side, TGR Foundation – founded by golf legend Tiger Woods and his late father, Earl Woods – will oversee the Kimmelman Campus’ expansive 25,000 square foot learning center, which will be equipped with high-tech labs, classrooms, and interactive stations that encourage innovative and hands-on STEM learning. 

 

“My dad helped me launch TGR Foundation over 20 years ago, inspired by our family motto of ‘share and care,’” said Tiger Woods, the philanthropist, entrepreneur and 14-time major champion. “Like Carol Kimmelman, Dad was dedicated to helping young people find their self-worth and confidence and I’m proud and honored to help her legacy live on. TGR Foundation is excited to be part of the Carol Kimmelman Athletic and Academic Campus, where we can continue to spread our mission of empowering students to pursue their passions through education.”

 

The monumental athletic and academic destination is inspired by the passion and generosity of Carol Kimmelman, a California native who passed away in 2017. A member of the 1983 national champion USC women’s tennis team and former South L.A. elementary school teacher, Carol believed fervently in the power of tennis and other sports to transform the lives of young people from all backgrounds. Two years after losing her battle with cancer, Kimmelman’s husband and four children are continuing her mission to make sports and education more equitable by opening this premiere center.

 

“Carol was passionate about the potential for children to learn important life lessons both in the classroom and on the tennis court or sports field,” Kimmelman said. “This exceptional, cutting-edge complex will be a safe place for young people throughout the region to experience these lessons firsthand, helping them achieve their full potential and opening doors throughout their lives.”

 

Dynamic tennis programming for children of all ages and abilities will be offered by both the SCTA and the USTA Foundation’s NJTL program on tennis courts spanning 29 acres, allowing more students throughout Los Angeles to grow and learn life lessons through the sport. 

 

“This is the most significant undertaking by the USTA Foundation on the West Coast supporting our mission of combining tennis and education together to change lives,” said Chris Evert, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No. 1 who was recently appointed chair of the USTA Foundation’s Board of Directors. “By making high-quality tennis and educational opportunities available to all local children, regardless of income, this campus will provide a transformative experience for thousands of young people that inspires them to succeed both on and off the court.”

 

Already, the Kimmelman Family Foundation, along with the USTA Foundation, USTA, SCTA, and representatives of TGR have met with school district leaders, local community-based non-profit organizations, law enforcement officials, and business groups to collaborate on programs and opportunities at the Kimmelman Campus.

 

“Thanks to Carol Kimmelman’s legacy, this Los Angeles County property is poised to be transformed into a world-class athletic and academic campus that would serve people of all ages throughout the South Bay and beyond,” said L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who represents the area. “Our partners have provided a bold vision for state-of-the-art sports and recreational activities, and youth would also have access to innovative STEM-based educational opportunities that can put them on a path toward a bright future.” 

 

The proposed project also includes plans to include other sports and recreation facilities, including soccer fields; multi-purpose fields that can accommodate rugby and other sports; basketball courts; a sprint track; and training turf to promote active and healthy lifestyles for the entire community.

 

To learn more, please visit kimmelmancampus.com.

 

About the Kimmelman Family Foundation

The Kimmelman Family Foundation is a charitable trust that focuses its donations in the areas of education, health, energy and environmental initiatives, and athletics. Founded in 1998, the Foundation has donated generously to causes that are important to the Kimmelman family.

 

About the USTA Foundation

USTA Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization incorporated in 1994 as the philanthropic entity of the United States Tennis Association. USTAF offers support to more than 200,000 children ages 5-18 who participate in the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) program, which delivers year-round tennis instruction and a widely acclaimed academic curriculum with the goal of positively impacting lives from childhood to adulthood. USTAF provides technical services to programs to maximize efficiencies and to build capacity through best practices. The USTA Foundation awards tennis and academic scholarships to high school seniors in each of the 17 Sections of the USTA.

 

About TGR Foundation

For more than 20 years, TGR Foundation has worked to create a world where opportunity is universal and potential is limitless. With an unwavering commitment to impact an entire generation, our mission is to empower students to pursue their passions through education. We are pioneers in positive youth development, encouraging self-advocacy skills in young people. Our programs foster a growth mindset, instilling in students the strength and skills to persevere and define their own path. Through our award-winning STEM curricula, college-access programs, digital platforms and educator professional development, TGR Foundation offers underrepresented students the resources and support needed to thrive in school and beyond. For more information, visit TGRFoundation.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.