{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fone-creative-act.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fepisode20-h1_9NkOC","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Mal Washington — Bigger Than Wimbledon; Creating Advantage & Causing Impact for Kids","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/2a850e9d-6495-498b-aaa0-046845ffc071/3906fdd5-68f2-4bb0-86e2-0417537c4a3c/21.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"Mal Washington is a cool guy. A real estate investor, entrepreneur, husband, father, philanthropist, pro athlete, business owner, olympian, and Wimbledon finalist, he started tennis at the age of 5 and became a 2-time all American and finished his sophomore year at the University of Michigan ranked as the NCAA #1 tennis player in the nation. Over a career that spanned 10 years, he won 4 career titles while reaching a total of 13 finals. He reached a career high #11 in the world in singles in 1992, 93, and 96 and in 1996, he reached the Wimbledon championship final becoming the first African American man to reach a grand slam singles final since 1975. He remains one of only two African American men to achieve this. \n\nA member of the US Olympic Team and US Davis Cup Team, Mal suffered a knee injury during his final Davis Cup appearance in 1997; following two knee surgeries, he retired in 1999. \n\nHe shares in this episode his love for the greatest sport — tennis. But his voice is now about what to do with what you’ve been given. He’s giving back through his foundation, The Mal Washington Foundation, located in the urban core, Durkeeville neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida. A 25-year-old non-profit organization providing after school homework assistance and life skills programs to kids that all started just to show kids the game of tennis who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity. \n\nIn 2020, after completion of a $5 million capital campaign, the Foundation opened a brand new state of the art Club 904 Teen Center to serve for decades to come. Ready to serve up your creative gifts to others and get love in return? It’s your serve. \n"}