Ralph Grieco Tennis Fund
Ralph loved tennis. He fell in love with the game at an early age and never stopped. Ralph was a competitive tennis player, regularly playing in tournaments and team events. It wasn’t long after his passing in August of 2019 that Ralph’s wife, Kristy, shared with the NSMTA that he wanted to give back to tennis. The NSMTA partnered with Kristy to establish the Ralph Grieco Tennis Fund with the purpose to give back to the life opportunities through tennis. In 2022, the Grieco family made a significant donation with the commitment of future funding. The NSMTA oversees the distribution of these funds in the name of Ralph Grieco. If you’d like to contribute to the Ralph Grieco Tennis Fund, click the button below. Your donations will be added to the Grieco family donations and support the opportunities that tennis can provide in Ralph’s memory. Note that your donations are tax deductible.
Press Release
Ralph Grieco Commemorating Plaque
In 2022, the NSMTA Board of Directors with input from Kristy Grieco made two distributions totaling $40,000.
• A $25,000 charitable grant to the Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA in support of their “After School Enrichment – Tennis Program” (www.ymcaatlanta.org/ymca-locations/buckhead/).
• A $15,000 grant to the Georgia Tennis Foundation. This grant was divided into 2 parts. $6,000 was approved in support of AYTEF-Atlanta Youth Tennis and Education Foundation. And, $9,000 for a Ralph Grieco Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit any male or female high school tennis player in Georgia who will be enrolling in a college and participating on a varsity tennis program in college.
To share a Tribute or Story about Ralph, please use the form below. Please share pictures as well.
I had the pleasure of knowing Ralph for some 15 years. We belonged to the same club in Atlanta and played on the same ALTA team. At team matches, we would catch up on our tournament play: matches we’d played, seen and upcoming tournaments. Seeing him at a tournament was extra special. He had a way about him to make me feel relaxed. He’d hang out with my family and myself, talking about tennis, boats, life and anything else. Ralph was constantly taking pictures. He’d send me emails with pictures he’d taken of me and my family. The picture to the right is a picture he took of us at Bitsy Grant in July 2019. Ralph was such a great guy. He is missed.
- Ed Wagner
When I think about the enjoyable things in my life my mind turns to tennis and all of the great times and friends that I have been fortunate to have. Ralph Grieco was my friend, doubles partner and co-believer in our incredible good fortune to have discovered tennis and lived it to the fullest for so many years. His sudden passing was a shock and a moment of sorrow in years of joy playing with and against him. He was a fair and honest gentleman on and off the court who contributed to our lives through his tennis photography and many other ways. Thoughts of Ralph bring a smile to me and gratitude to have known him.
- Noble Hendrix
Use this form to share a Tribute or a Story. To share pictures send them to edwagner@nsmta.net.