IC Philanthropy Foundation (a UK registered charity) was established by the Council of International Clubs in 2009 as an integral activity of the member nations, which run their own International Clubs (ICs). The IC itself was first formed in 1924 and the countries which are active today concluded that philanthropy was a natural extension of their original objective, which had been to bring nations together through tennis and generate international goodwill.
The purpose of the Foundation is to encourage and support those in the IC community who are engaged in seeking to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people through tennis. The aim has been to teach tennis in communities around the world and, through tennis, to impart life skills which help to show an alternative path from life on the streets and the dangers of drugs, crime and negative peer pressure. It is hoped that these life skills will develop a positive attitude, foster a strong work ethic and approach to life and instil the belief in the children and young people that anything is possible, even in difficult circumstances.
The Foundation funds facilities, equipment and coaching for these programmes and assesses the effectiveness of these initiatives on an on-going basis. Grants are provided with the understanding that there is matched funding from another source, preferably local, or that efforts are made to try to source this additional funding. Read more.
