After school, hundreds of students walk to a community center in Durkeeville, which hopefully feels like a second home. The MaliVai Washington Community Foundation has changed the lives of thousands of students through sports, academics, life skills and love.

Former Wimbledon finalist Mal Washington with some of the children who have benefited from the Malivai Washington Youth Foundation. On crutches and unable to play tennis, he focused on something else — the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation. They would never dream of playing high school tennis when they were a kid. But I love it when being on their high school team is one of their goals, and they achieve that.”AdWhat’s next for the Malivai Washington Youth Foundation? And it all started with the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation.

Former tennis star MaliVai Washington, left, shakes hands with Jared Rice, the executive director of The Players, on Thursday. Rice presented Washington with a $500,000 grant for the Teen Center, part of the foundation's new project that willJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - MaliVai Washington set an aggressive fundraising goal for his growing youth foundation $5 million. The Players Championship announced a $500,000 gift to the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation on Thursday, putting the organization much closer to its $5 million target that will help launch its Teen Center next year. The Players gift and announcement, which was fronted by area resident and 2003 U.S. Open champion, Jim Furyk, is a grant that will match funds up to $500,000. The new teen center, done in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, will allow the Mal Washington Youth Foundation to nearly triple the amount of middle and high school students it can help serve.