Tina McCall wanted to give back to the tennis world that had opened so many doors for her. She worked three years with Arthur Ashe in his camps helping to develop young minority junior tennis players. Tina took her philanthropic endeavors to the next level in 2002 when she founded the Denton Johnson Tennis Corporation, a non-profit organization that continues the work of her mentor and coach, to develop young junior tennis players that would otherwise have no chance to play and compete in the sport that she loves.
Tina has worked tirelessly without even drawing a salary and furnishes Eatonville youth with lighted courts, racquets, balls and top instruction. Her efforts continue on to this day, 50 years later where you still can find her out on the courts.
As an accomplished player breaking the barriers for Black tennis in Orlando FL, her success was both personal (for her) and historical for Black tennis.
Tina has envisioned a Tennis and Education Complex that will create a safe haven where kids can go after school and have access to computers, mentors, nutrition, and learn the game of tennis in team format. Now she is overseeing the construction of Eatonville’s first dedicated Youth Tennis and Education complex, the Denton Johnson Tennis Corporation (DJTC). This new facility will allow DJTC to increase the number of youth served by providing dedicated facilities for administration, classrooms, tennis courts, with the ability to invite competitive play to the Town of Eatonville.
Tina’s view for the Youth Tennis and Education Complex is grand, and the advantages this facility can create for the community are boundless. Through generous support from valued individuals, corporate donors, and government agencies Tina has been able to complete Phase I of the project $119,000, building two tennis courts with lights.
Denton Johnson Tennis Corporation (DJTC)
Mission: To create a safe haven where kids can go after school and have access
to computers, mentors, nutrition, and learn the game of tennis in a team format.
Denton Johnson Tennis Corporation (DJTC) was established in November, 2001 as a 501c (3) Not-for-Profit organization by Tina McCall and a group of civic and community leaders that recognized that the area youth were at risk in school and had no resources available to them for homework or other school activities. The organization is named after Mr. Denton “Pops” Johnson who initiated Eatonville’s first tennis program, of which Tina McCall was one of his first students. As a mentor, Pops Johnson asked that each of his protégé give back to the community in any way possible.
DJTC Partnerships
Tina has been able to establish the following partnerships to support academic and athletic activities at DJTC:
Orange County Public Schools
Hungerford Elementary School
Orange County Parks & Recreation
Boys & Girls Club of Eatonville
National Junior Tennis League (NJTL)
Members of:
- First Serve - Central Florida Chapter
- National Junior Tennis League – Central Florida Chapter
- USTA Organization Member
- USA Team Tennis League
University of Central Florida Intramural Tennis Program
USTA Tennis – Florida
USTA National
Governor’s Mentoring Imitative
Mayor Richard Crotty’s Youth Initiative
Volunteer Florida Foundation
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Town of Eatonville
Rollins College Women’s Tennis League
DJTC Accomplishments
• 2003:
- 9 youth failing at Hungerford Elementary
As a result of UCF Intramural Tennis volunteers, all students were promoted to next
grade level
• 2002-2003:
- 48 youth participants in Red Rally USTA competition in Florida
• 2002-2003:
- Recognized as NJTL Chapter of the Year by USTA Tennis – Florida
• 2003-2004:
- 24 youth participated in Team Tennis USTA in Florida
• 2004-2005:
- 18 youth play competitively ranked 3.5 or higher in sanctioned and non-sanctioned
competition.
• 2006-2009
- 7 tennis players received tennis scholarships
• 2010-2011
- 5 tennis players received 2-year scholarships
- 2 tennis players received a 4-year scholarship
• 2013-2016
- 8 tennis players received tennis scholarships
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