What's New This Week!

SPEAKER: Christine Nickels, Executive Director

TOPIC: Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center Programs

Christine Nickels has 20 years of experience in non-profit administration and sport-based youth development.  She is currently the Executive Director of the Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center (FWTEC), a role she has held since 2022.  Christine moved into this role after serving as the FWTEC Assistant Executive Director and Director of Education and Partnerships, overseeing all outreach programming, fundraising, and communications. She was instrumental in FWTEC receiving national recognition as a 2021 National Youth Sports Strategy Champion and a 2018 Aspen Institute Project Play Champion.

Prior to FWTEC, Christine worked for 12 years at United States Tennis Association (USTA) Northern in a variety of roles including Director of Community Tennis, where she led the team spearheading efforts to expand access to the game and support local providers in growing and developing the sport in their communities.  Christine also has extensive volunteer experience with several organizations, including the Minneapolis Community Education Advisory Council, Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership, Hammer Residences, and the Tennis & Life Camps National Advisory Board.

Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center (FWTEC) Overview

The Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center is a nonprofit, public indoor tennis facility on the border of Minneapolis and St. Paul that removes barriers to participation and helps players of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds achieve personal growth on and off the court within a culture of belonging and support.

As a public indoor tennis facility, a range of play opportunities and programs are offered year-round for individuals ages 5 to 95.  Youth scholarships are available for those experiencing financial hardship to ensure participation is based on a desire to play and not an ability to pay.

A free TennisWorks outreach programs goes beyond the walls of the facility to engage 2,000 youth annually in grades 3-12.  This program starts with engaging youth in community settings, primarily schools located within 10 blocks of the Lake Street corridor in South Minneapolis, and continues through a multitude of opportunities that grow with the child and helps them thrive into adulthood.  TennisWorks programming is offered at no-cost with provided transportation to and from schools and homes.  More  information can be found at www.fwtec.org.

For the meeting of October 22, 2025 there are 34 cards and 2 Jokers. The pot stands at $225.00. Ticket donations are: $1 for 1 ticket; $2 for 3 tickets; $3 for 5 tickets; $5 for 10 tickets; and $10 for 25 tickets. Three lucky winners are chosen each week; the first two tickets drawn win $5, the third winner draws a card from the deck in hopes of pulling an Ace to win a share of the pot.  If a joker is pulled, it will cost the winner a $2 contribution to the pot.  If the Ace of Spades is pulled, the pot is awarded equally to all who have pulled an Ace from the current deck, and the drawing starts over again.