PURCHASE, N.Y., March 10, 2025 (Press Release)
The USTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association Incorporated (USTA), along with professional tennis player Mackenzie (Mackie) McDonald, today announced the launch of the USTA Foundation’s Mackie McDonald College Fund, a new initiative that will provide individual player grants to high school seniors who will continue their tennis careers at the collegiate level. The Fund will directly support student-athletes who progressed through the tennis-playing pathway via the USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network, a nationwide group of more than 250 sports-based community organizations that use tennis as a tool to prepare young people from under-served communities to be ready for their futures, wherever their lives take them.
McDonald, who has reached a career-high world No. 37 in the ATP singles rankings and No. 49 in ATP doubles rankings, and famously defeated Rafael Nadal in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, had a stellar Division I collegiate career before turning professional. A native of Piedmont, Calif., McDonald competed for the UCLA Bruins from 2014-16, earning All-America honors all three years. He finished his final season ranked No. 1 in singles and doubles in the ITA collegiate rankings and swept the NCAA singles and doubles titles in 2016, making him the first man in 15 years–and just the fifth since 1974–to accomplish the feat.
Through the USTA Foundation, McDonald is now using his experiences and platform to inspire the next generation of college-bound students to realize what’s possible and hopes this Fund will help young people understand the importance of education, and foster their personal growth in sports and beyond.
“Going to UCLA turned out to be one of the best decisions I made in my life, and for my life, and I’m happy to be playing a part in helping young people chase their college dreams, on and off the court,” McDonald said. “Working towards ensuring that all young people, no matter where they come from, are able to unlock all the benefits that higher education has to offer is a responsibility that means so much to me, and I can’t wait to see how this Fund supports not just young people and their education, but their families and communities.”
“The Foundation’s Mackie McDonald College Fund is not about supporting college scholarships; it’s about preparing young people for the challenges they will face on and off the court at one of the most critical points in their lives,” said Ginny Ehrlich, USTA Foundation CEO. “Mackie is committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders who are prepared to achieve their dreams in whatever field they choose. Mackie’s success is a testament to the invaluable lessons that come through balancing academics with athletics, and we are thrilled to have him walk alongside us in our mission to empower these talented students with the tools they need to succeed as they grow into well-rounded adults and positively contribute to their communities.”
Individual player grants are just one of the many ways the USTA Foundation supports its NJTL network, which was co-founded in 1969 by cultural icon Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder. Today, the USTA Foundation helps provide over 168,000 young people nationwide access to opportunities that reach far beyond the game of tennis, including social and emotional learning programs, academic support, scholarships, and career and college readiness services. McDonald is the second professional tennis player to support the USTA Foundation through an eponymous fund; the USTA Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund was launched in 2023.
