Honors

 
  • Clinton Global Initiative’s “Outstanding Commitment Award”, 2008
A’s & Aces is a project of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and was featured by President Clinton during the Clinton Global Initiative University inaugural meeting held in New Orleans on March 14-16, 2008.  President Clinton's personally recognized A's & Aces during the “Special Session: Rebuilding a Sustainable New Orleans". You can view the full transcript of the presentation here.
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President Clinton presents the "Outstanding Commitment" Award to A's & Aces in 2008.
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana’s “Angel Award”, 2010 
The Angel Award is an annual statewide recognition program that awards funds to outstanding Louisianians working to improve the quality of life for the state's children. Since 1995, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in grants to more than 100 volunteers who perform extraordinary work for Louisiana's at-risk children. This signature Foundation program is all about increasing awareness of children's needs throughout the state and providing much-needed resources to help address them. Every year, the Angel Award recognizes eight outstanding volunteers with a $20,000 grant to each honoree's nonprofit charity.
  • 2012 State of America Documentary Project  (Broadcast nationally by ABC as a Secret Millionaire episode)
Based on the hit UK series of the same name, each episode of "Secret Millionaire" follows one of America's most successful business people for one week as they leave behind their lavish lifestyles, sprawling mansions and luxury jets, conceal their true identities, and go to live and volunteer in some of the most impoverished and dangerous neighborhoods in the country. Their mission is to discover deserving individuals who continually sacrifice everything to help those in need, and ultimately encourage others to do the same. Throughout this incredible, life-changing experience, the Secret Millionaires attempt to remain undiscovered, coming face to face with extraordinary people battling the odds every day of their lives. On the final day, in an emotional and dramatic climax, they reveal their true identities. Ultimately, the millionaires each give away a great deal of their own money, changing lives forever and encouraging others to keep giving back.
          Photo: Amos Winbush, III – reveals his secret and donates $50,000 to A’s & Aces as a Secret Millionaire

A's & Aces received its first overseas donations from the United Kingdom, and, through correspondence with donors, discovered that British audiences learned about A's & Aces when the show was telecast in conjunction with Wimbledon.  The episode that was filmed in July 2011 aired nationally in the U.S. during prime time on Sunday Aug 25, 2013,  the evening before the U.S. Open.
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  • USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning 2013 "Chapter of the Year"
In November 2013, the USTA announced that A's & Aces was selected as the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Chapter of the Year in the highest of three budget levels ($500k and over).  In its press release announcing the award, the USTA explained that the NJTL concept was "founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder, [and that the NJTL] network is a nationwide group of more than 600 nonprofit youth development organizations that provide free or low-cost tennis, education and life skills programming to more than 300,000 children each year. Celebrating its 44th anniversary this year, NJTL is one of the USTA’s largest community-based offerings."

In conjunction with this award, the USTA commissioned a video that features several City leaders, including the Mayor, the council President/VP, a NORD Commissioner, and the Heath Commissioner explaining the need for and value of A's & Aces programs to the community.
  • A's & Aces featured in the Nov/Dec 2014 "Heroes Issue" of Tennis Magazine
​Read "Big Impact in the Big Easy" in the magazine, or an abridged online edition in Tennis Tuesday.  ​
  •   Dr. Monhartova Wins BCBSLA Angel of Change Grant, 2015
​To celebrate the 20 years of Angel Award winners, Blue Cross authorized the so-called Angels of Change Grant program to support innovative ideas benefiting Louisiana children. The 162 Angel Awardees, including A’s & Aces co-founder, Dr. Monhartova, were invited to apply. Twenty (20) grants were awarded, and A’s & Aces' Empower & Serve initiative was selected as one of the awardees. A special event was hosted at the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking at Tulane University where the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation awarded A's & Aces an Angels of Change Grant in the amount of $50,000 to support our Initiative.​ Learn more here.
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Dr. Monhartova and BCBSLA Foundation President, Michael Tipton
  • Dr. Monhartova Named 2016 "Louisiana Hero of Excellence" ​
​A's & Aces co-founder, President and dedicated volunteer, Anna Monhartova, PhD was selected by the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation as the the 2016  "Louisiana Hero of Excellence." The ceremony and reception was hosted at the Governor's Mansion by Mrs. Donna Edwards, First Lady, State of Louisiana, and the Senate and House members of the LA Legislative Women's Caucus, including New Orleans Representatives Helena Moreno, Stephanie Hilferty and Sen. Karen Carter Peterson. Event Program excerpt
  • WDSU News Visits A's & Aces Camp
WDSU News reporter Charles Divins visited our Tournament Training Camp at the Atkinson-Stern Tennis Center. The video aired on June 25, 2016. View or read the report here.
  • 2016 TrueSport Video Highlights Partnership with A's & Aces 
TrueSport, a grassroots movement affiliated with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, partners with A's & Aces to promote the positive experiences that youth sport can bring to help young athletes build the life skills and core values for success on and off the court. 

In 2016, two multi-medal Olympians visited New Orleans as TrueSport Ambassadors  to film a video highlighting the partnership and our student-athletes: after-school program at Dillard University and our Atkinson-Stern summer camp. TrueSport's motto is "We Value Champions. We Champion Values." Click here to view the video. 
The Times-Picayune spotlighted A's & Aces' co-founder and current President, Anna Monhartova, PhD,  in its 2016 "Future of New Orleans Project" that focuses on "individuals who are building a better future for our area by making a difference  now" - NOLA Heroes.  Read the article here.
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  • ​A's & Aces' President Receives 2017 Zurich Classic Community Impact Award
Chronological List of A's & Aces Awards
Over its 15+ years of operation, A’s & Aces work has been recognized by local, state, regional, and national awards:

2008:
  • Outstanding Commitment Award - awarded by the Clinton Global Initiative University
  • Educational Merit Award - awarded by the Southern Tennis Association
  • Educational Merit Award - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association
2009:
  • City Council Proclamation: “For Outstanding Work On Behalf of the Youth of New Orleans”
2010:
  • Angel Award – awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana through an annual statewide recognition program that awards funds to “outstanding Louisianians working to improve the quality of life for the state's children.” 
2011:
  • Selected by ABC TV to appear on the Secret Millionaire show and awarded $50,000
  • Educational Merit Award - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association
  • Member Organization of the Year – Certificate of Merit - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association

2013:
  • National Junior Tennis & Learning Chapter of the Year - The National Chapter of the Year was awarded by the United States Tennis Association from more than 600 organizations nation-wide.
  • New Orleans Saints Community Quarterback Award

2014
  • Member Organization of the Year – Certificate of Merit - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association

2015
  • Educational Merit Award - awarded by the Southern Tennis Association
  • Educational Merit Award - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association
  • National Junior Tennis & Learning Chapter of the Year - awarded by the Southern Tennis Association
  • National Junior Tennis & Learning Chapter of the Year - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association
  • Millennial Award for Social Entrepreneurship - awarded by Spears Consultant Group
  • ​Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation presented A's & Aces with an Angel of Change award

​2016
  • ​"Louisiana Hero of Excellence" selected by the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus Foundation as the 2016 "Louisiana Hero of Excellence."  
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation presented A's & Aces with an Angel of Change award
2017
  • 2017 Zurich Classic Community Impact Award -   for  work to improve the lives of children in New Orleans through significant contributions to building resilient and sustainable communities through inspirational leadership and ability to enact positive change.
  •  2017 National Junior Tennis & Learning Organization of the Year - awarded by Tennis Industry  magazine
2020
  • Educational Merit Award - awarded by the Southern Tennis Association
  • Educational Merit Award - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association
  • Tennis Professional of the Year - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association
2023
  • National Junior Tennis & Learning Organization of the Year - awarded by the Southern Tennis Association
  • National Junior Tennis & Learning Organization of the Year - awarded by the Louisiana Tennis Association​

A's & Aces      1036 Arabella St.     New Orleans, LA 70115        [email protected]