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“More Good News! US Steel Foundation on behalf of the MINTAC mine approves
$20,000 grant to Quad Cities Tennis for All, here being presented to tennis
coach Jim Prittinen and George Erickson, board members of Quad Cities Tennis
for All. by Employee Relations manager John Skube and General Manager Dennis
Quirk
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VIRGINIA , Minn. , – Dec 9, 2005 – Wells Fargo recently awarded a $5,000 grant to the Quad Cities Tennis for All capital campaign.
Quad Cities Tennis for All was formed earlier this year, launching a capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of a four court facility within the city of Virginia . The indoor tennis courts will give community members year round access. They will be open to all area residents for recreation and will be the home of tennis competitions bringing together participants from across the Iron Range .
“This is a great opportunity for Wells Fargo to invest in the communities we serve, and we look forward to being a part of this new venture in our city,” said Roger Suihkonen, Wells Fargo Community Banking president in Virginia . “This facility will benefit our youth and the surrounding communities.”
“Wells Fargo’s $5000 donation typifies the amazing support that Quad Cities Tennis for All continues to receive from a wide range of individuals, businesses, organizations and governmental units,” state George Erickson, Chairman of the project. “We believe that Wells Fargo, by providing these funds, recognizes that our four-court facility will serve Quad City area residents of all ages quite well, that it will save our schools money, and that it will bring income into our communities with every tournament we hold. Thank you Wells Fargo! We welcome you to our growing group of enthusiastic supporters.”
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $453 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage an d c onsumer finance to more than 23 million customers from more than 6,200 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the United States to receive the highest possible credit rating, “Aaa,” from Moody’s Investors Service.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to voice my support for the completion of the indoor tennis facility in Virginia Minnesota. Our school is located near the Twin Cities but even our athletes have a difficult time competing with those who have easy access to indoor facilities. Virginia desperately needs some type of indoor facility to maintain and improve the high quality programs that they have developed.
Buffalo High School travels up to Hibbing at least once every season and we would certainly like to take advantage of the indoor courts in Virginia. Please consider the out state needs for athletic facilities when determining whether or not to fund this site. Many athletes will benefit from it.
Sincerely,
C.A. Keifenheim Chemistry Teacher/Tennis Coach
Buffalo High School
Rochester Tennis coach. As I sit down and write about what VHS Tennis means to me, nothing but positive, fun memories come to mind. I truly believe that without the experiences that I had with Gundy, Bob and Jim and the entire VHS Tennis staff, I would not be where I am today.
I first picked up a racket about 25 years ago. Being from the Iron Range, I naturally played hockey and never gave tennis much thought until a few of my friends asked me to be a fourth in their doubles match. I had so much fun I decided to take lessons at the Southside Park full time – the program and its reputation spoke for itself. I can still remember riding my bike with my racket strapped to my handlebars. Some days I just could not peddle fast enough to get there. I also remember how angry I would be if it was raining – this meant no tennis!
After lettering for four (4) years at VHS, I played tennis for Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I was so grateful that I played for coaches and a program that prepared me so well for the college level. (I even would come home to Virginia in the summers and help give lessons through the very summer program where I started.) The close friendships that I made in both high school and college came from tennis. We still keep in touch and even play a few tournaments in the summer together. Tennis may not define my life, but it has played a large part in it.
In part due to the tennis experiences I had in the past, I chose to become a high school teacher and tennis coach. I also work part time giving tennis lessons at the Rochester Athletic Club in Rochester, Minnesota to kids of all ages. Even my three (3) daughters (ages 8, 6 and 4) have taken an interest in tennis and are playing in local programs. They have seen the hard work and fun that goes into this sport and I am thrilled that they are enjoying this wonderful game. In fact, my two oldest daughters had the opportunity to play in the Virginia Summer Tennis Program last summer.
VHS Tennis is the epitome of high school athletics. I just completed my fourth year of coaching at a relatively new high school and am trying to build a tennis program on the same principles and with the solid foundation that has made VHS Tennis what it is today.
Thank you Gundy for being such a phenomenal role model and Bob and Jim for encouraging me to do what I do.
Sincerely, Joe Boyer
Rochester Century High School
VHS Class of 1987
Dave:
Over the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of individuals playing tennis nationwide and in our section, USTA Northern. But nowhere is it more apparent than in Northern Minnesota .
Having been with USTA Northern for almost 17 years and having made numerous visits to the Virginia/Hibbing area, I have personally seen the growth of tennis at all levels. This past summer I conducted one of our Competition Training Centers (CTC’s) in Virginia . I was pleasantly surprised with the number of players that participated, not to mention the high caliber of tennis among these junior players. Upon leaving the courts that day, I couldn’t help but wonder what an indoor facility would do to further enhance tennis in the area?
I know for a fact that if an indoor facility were built in Virginia , we would not be conducting just one CTC per year in the area, but numerous CTC’s throughout the year. This would give us the opportunity to host CTC’s during the winter months, which may attract anywhere from 16-32 juniors and their families. These two day CTC’s result in additional revenue to area in the way of hotel rooms, food and beverage and professional fees.
In addition to CTC’s being held in Virginia , we would welcome the opportunity to host sectional adult and junior tournaments at the indoor facility. Depending upon the level of the tournament and the number of tournaments being run at the facility, this again would result in additional revenue and tourism to the area.
The section and myself see this opportunity as a win-win situation for the economy in the Virginia/Hibbing area and for the growth of tennis in our section. We hope this dream becomes a reality!
Best regards,
Patrick Colbert
Assistant Executive Director
USTA Northern
