Established in February 2008 by Washington, D.C. entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Ein, the Washington Kastles were founded with the goal of building a platform that would unite and give back to the DC community. Specifically, the team’s four founding principles were and remain today:
- Bring the Greater Washington community together
- Help local charitable partners
- Create a center of high-quality, fun activities
- Expose the sport of tennis to a wider audienceorking with hundreds of local charitable, civic and military support organizations, the Kastles have donated more than $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions since 2008, including 11,000+ match tickets and 6,000+ junior tennis racquets.
Each season, Kastles Kids Clinics (supported by Bloomberg) have afforded thousands of children the opportunity to meet and learn the game from tennis superstars such as Venus and Serena Williams. The team’s players, coach and staff have hosted over 30 tennis clinics at Kastles Stadium (8 with Venus or Serena), public parks, rec centers and schools, exposing the sport of tennis and encouraging physical activity for thousands of less-privileged kids in the Washington community.
To encourage the growth of our great sport, the Mark David Ein Foundation sponsors a racquet giveaway program. A free tennis racquet is given to any child 12 and under who needs one at Kastles Kids Clinics and Kastles home matches. Each season, about 1,000 free racquets are awarded through this program.
At every Kastles home match – almost all of which are sell-outs – the team gives between 100 and 200 tickets to children’s and military charities so that those in our community who are less fortunate or have served our country can share in the special Kastles match-night experience.
Kastles matches have been called “the greatest melting pot of the Washington community.” Supporting the Kastles is something that everyone in Washington can agree upon: People from all walks of life and all parts of the region cheer for the team alongside Congressmen, Cabinet members, Administration officials and other leaders from government, business, media and sports.
From 2012 through 2015, the Kastles organized the Washington Kastles Charity Classic, a team tennis match in which Democrats, Republicans, politicians, media and sports celebrities compete side by side to benefit the DC Public Education Fund, Best Buddies, TAPS, Food & Friends and Share Our Strength.