In 2001, the couple formed a partnership with the Pawtucket (R.I.) Boys’ & Girls’ Club and that city’s Parks & Recreation Department. The Macksouds helped leverage grant money the organizations received into an all-out tennis marketing campaign, buoyed by interactive events such as free lessons.

Participation increased from 200 to nearly 1,000 in a short time.

Former USTA New England Director of Community Tennis Janice Reardon took notice of the Macksouds’ work and their passion for growing the game and urged them to form a Community Tennis Association.

The Macksouds agreed and the Blackstone Valley Tennis Association was officially formed in January of 2002 and became a 501c organization in 2004.

A passion for tennis can only get one so far, and the Macksouds were aware of that. They formed alliances and recruited a network of volunteers who shared their passion and vision.

“In many ways, Joanne and Ed Macksoud are opposites, but together they make a great team,” said Doug Chapman, USTA New England’s Community Coordinator for Rhode Island and southeastern Mass. “They are community-orientated, all-inclusive and have an infectious enthusiasm that helps to draw people to their programs. They make tennis fun. And while they are prepared to work to make it fun for others, they really enjoy doing it, and that really shows through and is a big reason for their success.”

Some of the organizations that joined forces with the BVTA include the Rhode Island Parents Information Network, North Providence Youth Tennis Camp, the Pawtucket Day Child Development Center, the Rhode Island Special Olympics, the Pawtucket school system and the Central Falls (R.I.) school system.
Joanne Macksoud, recalling her experiences coaching tennis in the inner-city, identified immediately the need to expose the game to a multicultural audience.

“Joanne and Ed have done a tremendous job of forging relationships in the community to provide tennis programming for many different organizations that might not have otherwise had access to tennis programming,” said Deirdre Tindall, the current USTA New England Director of Community Tennis.  “What started out as a single-purpose Community Tennis Association has now grown into a variety of different programming ideas that have made a huge difference to children and adults alike and have helped bridge the gap between the game and people who otherwise probably would not have been exposed to it.”

The Macksouds’ major achievements are as numerous as they are phenomenal.

The BVTA partnered with CVS and the Providence Recreation Department to establish a tennis program within “City Camp.” That initiative allowed nearly 1,000 youngsters to participate in free tennis lessons.

The BVTA’s success has also led to a sense of trust from the USTA’s national office. The Macksouds’ program was one of only five in the United States selected as a pilot in the HAL (“Hit and Learn”) program.

The BVTA has also held tournaments for members of the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club and a family-oriented event dubbed “The Family Feud.”

The organization hosted several Recreational Coaches Workshops, which have encouraged and instructed others on the fundamentals of teaching the game of tennis to children.

In 2007, the BVTA partnered with USTA Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Special Olympics to bring tennis to the games.

As the efforts made by the BVTA have expanded, so too has the staff. The BVTA has four instructors who work more than 20 hours per week, five who work 10 or more, a pair who works at least five hours and a host of “on-call’ instructors. The Macksouds also established a stable of 12 volunteers who work with the BVTA throughout the year.