2023 Champions of Equity Inaugural Event
During the 2023 US Open’s inaugural “Champions of Equality” event, members from 17 USTA Sections were honored for their grassroots contributions toward leveling the playing field for all.
The event took place shortly before the women’s singles semifinals, celebrating the fight for equality and the pioneering women who have led the way. It acknowledged tennis’s foremost trailblazers at both the professional and grassroots levels. The “Be Open” event was presented by Cadillac, which also sponsored the broadcast of the iconic Battle of the Sexes match in September 1973.
The legendary Billie Jean King received the night’s Lifetime Achievement Award, while Venus Williams was awarded the first US Open Billie Jean King Champion of Equality Award for 2023. Among the 2023 honorees was Joy Albi, recognized for her work in the Midwest. The honorees had the opportunity to meet King before a dynamic conversation between her and Williams, who have both been at the forefront of the fight for equal pay in tennis.
2024 Champions of Equity
This year, the US Open will continue their efforts to champion equal pay, equal opportunity, and equitable representation for women in sports and society. We will again recognize women in each of the Sections who embody the spirit of a Champion of Equality through their dedicated work and commitment.
The USTA/Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation is thrilled to announce that Dr. Susan Klumpner will be receiving this esteemed award.
On Thursday, September 5, Susan will be recognized during the Champions of Equality event at the 2024 US Open. The event will include a cocktail reception, a meet & greet, tickets to the women’s semi-final matches for the honoree and one guest, participation in a panel discussion, and a collective award show recognition within the stadium during the match. She will return home with a commemorative award.
MTEF and the USTA Midwest Section would like to thank Dr. Susan Klumpner for her years of volunteering and dedication to serving youth. She truly exemplifies our values of community, inclusion, and wellness, and inspires change within her section with a focus on advancing the next generation.
Who is Dr. Susan Klumpner?
Dr. Susan Klumpner is known in the Midwest tennis community for starting her own 501c3, The ACE Project, which is a USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter. Since its inception, The ACE Project has grown beyond its home city in Chicago, Illinois and expanded to locations in Detroit, Michigan and Baltimore, Maryland. Klumpner is known recently as a Professor and Associate Director of Field Education at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. For many others, she is known as a social worker, friend, tennis coach, and volunteers with the USTA. She has been on the Junior Recreation Committee, CTA Taskforce, NJTL Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee to list a few. We honor her for the years of service as a USTA Foundation Board Member.
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