InnerCity Tennis Annual Awards

Skip Gage served InnerCity Tennis for more than forty years, shaping it into the mission-driven, value-centric youth development organization that it is today. He poured himself into all aspects of ICT’s work and was instrumental in developing our core values of enthusiasm, integrity, perseverance, respect, responsibility, service, and teamwork. While Skip was enthusiastic about all that InnerCity Tennis did, his true passion was for the organization’s community programs. He was dedicated to ensuring that ICT did all it could to make the lifelong benefits of tennis accessible to all youth in Minneapolis.

The Skip Gage Memorial Award is given annually to a youth participant who, like Skip, embodies InnerCity Tennis’ core values. Along with the award comes a $1000 scholarship to support their participation in ICT’s Cities Academy or any other fee-based program.

Nick Bollettieri, an International Tennis Hall of Fame member and long-time InnerCity Tennis board member, was one of the most influential individuals in the history of American tennis. He coached ten players who reached number one in the world, along with countless others who played at the game’s highest levels. Nick developed coaching concepts and strategies that truly changed the sport, but he was not solely interested in developing the world’s most talented players. One of his strongest lifelong passions was to support the development of underserved youth from our nation’s cities. He launched and operated the Ashe-Bollettieri Cities youth tennis program in the 1980-90’s with tennis legend Arthur Ashe and joined the InnerCity Tennis board in 2005. Through the years, Nick helped promote our cause, and he had a strong hand in guiding the development of ICT’s Schools & Partners programs, the Cities Academy youth training program, and our coaches and staff.

The Nick Bollettieri Memorial Award is given annually, based on player input, to an InnerCity Tennis coach who, like Nick, has passion and talent for their craft. Along with the award comes a $1000 stipend for pursuing relevant continuing training or education.

Rick Evans was humble, generous of spirit, and had an incredibly positive and lasting impact on the InnerCity Tennis community. Over the years, he served as a board member, chaired several board committees, and even stepped in as Interim Executive Director. He was equally willing to grind through administrative work as he was to pick up a snow shovel when that was what was needed. But it wasn’t just what Rick did for InnerCity Tennis that made him unique – it was how he did it: with cheerful, infectious enthusiasm that improved the lives of everyone around him.

The Rick Evans Memorial Award is given annually, based on the recommendation of InnerCity Tennis’ Board of Directors and leadership staff, to an InnerCity Tennis community member who, like Rick, exemplifies the value of Service.