Sloane Stephens takes a selfie with students at
her foundation’s 2026 Summer School Program, which ran June 8 to July 2. The program combined
tennis, wellness and education for students from TK through eighth grade. Photo courtesy of Sloane Stephens Foundation
Sloane Stephens brought her foundation’s summer program to Fresno because of her family’s long-standing ties to the community.
The program combines tennis, education, wellness and life-skills development.
Students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade participated.
Stephens says the foundation’s mission extends well beyond athletics.
The organization plans to continue expanding its youth programming nationwide.
For Grand Slam champion and Olympian Sloane Stephens, bringing her foundation’s summer program to Fresno is about far more than tennis. It’s about honoring family, investing in young people and giving back to a community that has shaped her family’s story for generations.
The Sloane Stephens Foundation’s 2026 Summer School Program served students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade between June 8 and July 2, combining tennis instruction with wellness, education and life skills.
In written responses to The Business Journal, Stephens said Fresno was a natural place to expand the foundation’s work because of her family’s deep roots in the community.
A family connection to Fresno
Stephens said her grandparents, Noel and Gloria Smith, were active members of the Fresno community and inspired her family’s commitment to service.
“My family is from Fresno, and many of them still live there today,” Stephens said. “My grandparents, Noel and Gloria Smith, were pillars in the community, and their commitment to serving others and investing in people has always inspired us.”
Returning to Fresno, she said, allowed the foundation to create opportunities for local students while continuing a family legacy.
“We’ve always wanted to give back in a meaningful way and create opportunities that support local students and families,” she said.
More than a tennis program
While tennis remains the foundation’s entry point, Stephens said the organization’s mission extends well beyond athletics.
She credits the sport with teaching resilience, discipline and confidence—lessons she hopes students will carry into school, careers and everyday life.
“Tennis has given me so much more than a career,” Stephens said. “It has taught me resilience, discipline, confidence, and how to navigate challenges both on and off the court.”
Those experiences helped shape a broader approach that now includes reading labs, swim programs, esports, financial literacy, wellness initiatives and scholarships.
“My mom is an educator, so learning has always been important in my life,” Stephens said.
Removing barriers to opportunity
Stephens acknowledged that tennis has historically presented barriers for many families because of equipment costs and limited access to facilities.
Her foundation works to reduce those barriers by bringing programs directly into underserved communities while integrating education and personal development alongside athletics.
The goal, she said, is to provide children with safe spaces where they can learn, build confidence and discover opportunities they may not have otherwise imagined.
Investing early in young people
The Fresno summer program served students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, an age Stephens believes is critical for building self-confidence.
“Those early years are when kids are building their confidence and starting to believe in what’s possible for them,” she said.
“If you can give them a positive environment, supportive mentors, and opportunities to learn and grow early on, it can change the way they see themselves and help build a strong foundation.”
Success measured beyond sports
Although Stephens has enjoyed success at the highest levels of professional tennis, she said the foundation’s greatest achievements come from watching students succeed in life.
“For me, this isn’t just a passion project. It’s my purpose,” she said.
“Watching our students earn college opportunities, qualify for tournaments, and achieve dreams they once thought were out of reach—that’s what makes it so special.”
Looking ahead
Stephens said the foundation plans to continue expanding beyond its current programs in Los Angeles, South Florida and Fresno while maintaining its focus on youth development.
“If every child who comes through our programs leaves believing in themselves a little more than when they arrived, then we’re making the kind of impact that lasts far beyond the classroom or the tennis court,” she said.