![\"Selfie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/p7-Sloane-stephens-1200x900.jpg\")
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Sloane Stephens takes a selfie with students at
\nher foundation’s 2026 Summer School Program, which ran June 8 to July 2. The program combined
\ntennis, wellness and education for students from TK through eighth grade. Photo courtesy of Sloane Stephens Foundation <\/p>\n
Sloane Stephens brought her foundation\u2019s summer program to Fresno because of her family\u2019s long-standing ties to the community.
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\nThe program combines tennis, education, wellness and life-skills development.
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\nStudents from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade participated.
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\nStephens says the foundation\u2019s mission extends well beyond athletics.
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\nThe organization plans to continue expanding its youth programming nationwide.<\/p>\n
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For Grand Slam champion and Olympian Sloane Stephens, bringing her foundation\u2019s summer program to Fresno is about far more than tennis. It\u2019s about honoring family, investing in young people and giving back to a community that has shaped her family\u2019s story for generations.<\/p>\n
The Sloane Stephens Foundation\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
In written responses to The Business Journal, Stephens said Fresno was a natural place to expand the foundation\u2019s work because of her family\u2019s deep roots in the community.<\/p>\n
A family connection to Fresno<\/p>\n
Stephens said her grandparents, Noel and Gloria Smith, were active members of the Fresno community and inspired her family\u2019s commitment to service.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family is from Fresno, and many of them still live there today,\u201d Stephens said. \u201cMy grandparents, Noel and Gloria Smith, were pillars in the community, and their commitment to serving others and investing in people has always inspired us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Returning to Fresno, she said, allowed the foundation to create opportunities for local students while continuing a family legacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always wanted to give back in a meaningful way and create opportunities that support local students and families,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
More than a tennis program<\/p>\n
While tennis remains the foundation\u2019s entry point, Stephens said the organization\u2019s mission extends well beyond athletics.<\/p>\n
She credits the sport with teaching resilience, discipline and confidence\u2014lessons she hopes students will carry into school, careers and everyday life.<\/p>\n
\u201cTennis has given me so much more than a career,\u201d Stephens said. \u201cIt has taught me resilience, discipline, confidence, and how to navigate challenges both on and off the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those experiences helped shape a broader approach that now includes reading labs, swim programs, esports, financial literacy, wellness initiatives and scholarships.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom is an educator, so learning has always been important in my life,\u201d Stephens said.<\/p>\n
Removing barriers to opportunity<\/p>\n
Stephens acknowledged that tennis has historically presented barriers for many families because of equipment costs and limited access to facilities.<\/p>\n
Her foundation works to reduce those barriers by bringing programs directly into underserved communities while integrating education and personal development alongside athletics.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Investing early in young people<\/p>\n
The Fresno summer program served students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, an age Stephens believes is critical for building self-confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose early years are when kids are building their confidence and starting to believe in what\u2019s possible for them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Success measured beyond sports<\/p>\n
Although Stephens has enjoyed success at the highest levels of professional tennis, she said the foundation\u2019s greatest achievements come from watching students succeed in life.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, this isn\u2019t just a passion project. It\u2019s my purpose,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching our students earn college opportunities, qualify for tournaments, and achieve dreams they once thought were out of reach\u2014that\u2019s what makes it so special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf every child who comes through our programs leaves believing in themselves a little more than when they arrived, then we\u2019re making the kind of impact that lasts far beyond the classroom or the tennis court,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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