MaliVai Washington addresses coaches on court.

Dec. 19, 2011

NAPLES, Fla. - MaliVai Washington's professional tennis career will always be remembered for his remarkable run to the 1996 Wimbledon final. But one tournament doesn't make a man.

Before Wimbledon, Washington enjoyed two of the most dominant seasons in college tennis history as a member of the Michigan Wolverines. It's his off-court achievements, however, that have established him as one of the most respected figures in the tennis industry.

After moving to Florida, Washington founded the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation (MWKF) in 1994 -- two years before his breakthrough at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The foundation has touched the lives of 20,000 children ever since, spawning a $3 million, 9,000-square-foot youth center in Jacksonville that features eight tennis courts, four classrooms, a computer lab, and after-school programs for students in Grades 1-12.

"I have no doubt in my mind that with our programs we have literally saved lives and kept kids out of prison and away from drugs and alcohol," Washington said Tuesday during the 2011 ITA Coaches Convention, where he served as a clinician and keynote speaker courtesy of Wilson Sporting Goods.

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