WHITE PLAINS, N. Y., Jan. 6, 2016 – The USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), today announced that it has appointed Emmy Award-winning journalist and Yahoo Global News anchor Katie Couric and the winningest men’s doubles team of all time, Bob and Mike Bryan, to its Celebrity and Player Advisory Council.

As members of the USTA Foundation Celebrity and Player Advisory Council, Couric and the Bryans will serve as ambassadors and spokespersons to support the Foundation’s mission, increase its brand awareness and raise revenue to support its programs.

Couric is an award-winning journalist and TV personality, cancer advocate, documentary film producer and New York Times best-selling author of “The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons From Extraordinary Lives.”

Couric joined Yahoo in November 2013 as Yahoo Global News Anchor, where she reports on live world events, anchors groundbreaking interviews with major newsmakers, and hosts the digital series “World 3.0” and “Now I Get It.” Couric is an executive producer and narrator of “Fed Up,” a documentary about the alarming spread of childhood obesity released in 2014.

In September 2006, Couric became the first female solo anchor of an evening news broadcast as anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.”Couric joined CBS News after a 15-year run as co-anchor of NBC’s “Today.”

Couric is a co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA) with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF). Couric is also a co-founder of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health.

“I’m honored to join the USTA Foundation Celebrity and Player Advisory Council,” said Couric. “Being part of the USTA Foundation’s tireless support for programs nationwide that leverage tennis and education to help those in need is an ace serve.”  

With 109 career titles, including 16 Grand Slam men’s doubles championships, Bob and Mike Bryan hold every major men’s doubles record in the Open era. Together, they have a combined total of 895 weeks ranked at No. 1 in the world, with 10 year-end No. 1 finishes. In Davis Cup play, they hold the U. S. record with 23 match wins.

In addition, the twins are the only team to have won an Olympic Gold medal plus four consecutive men’s doubles Grand Slam titles: the Bryans’ Golden Slam. Their total Olympic haul is five medals, including two gold medals.

The Bryans have been recognized as role models both nationally and internationally. Most recently, in November they were named as the recipients of the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award at the ATP World Finals. Bob and Mike were also the inaugural winners of the US Open Sportsmanship Award in 2012 and the United States Olympic Committee named the twins as the 2012-13 Olympic Team of the Year.

In 2010, Bob and Mike established the Bryan Brothers Foundation and have raised and donated more than $700,000  to youth tennis organizations staging an annual fundraiser in their hometown of Camarillo, Calif.

“The USTA Foundation’s mission of helping youth achieve their dreams through tennis and education is an amazing feat,” said Bob Bryan. “Much like what we are working to accomplish with our foundation, the overall goal is generating positive impact, and we are proud to continue those efforts by working with and supporting the USTA Foundation.”

“Tennis and education are the most important factors in our success,” added Mike Bryan. “Prior to our pro careers, we attended Stanford University, so we are proud to be role models and help to get the message out on behalf of the USTA Foundation.”

“We are thrilled and most of all honored to have Katie Couric along with Bob and Mike Bryan join the USTA Foundation’s Celebrity and Player Advisory Council,” said James Blake, USTA Foundation Chairman of the Board. “Earlier this year Katie served as the co-host of our annual Opening Night Gala, and her energy and enthusiasm was surely a driving force that made it such a successful night. It’s great to have someone with such global presence lend their influence and time to support our efforts.”

“As longtime supporters of the USTA Foundation, Bob and Mike spend a great deal of energy taking time out of their successful careers to give back in many ways,” added Blake, who won a Davis Cup championship with the Bryans and Andy Roddick in 2007. “Their achievements off the court are just as admirable as their stellar careers on the court. As two of my closest friends on the circuit, I’m excited to collaborate for the purpose of changing young lives and honored that they will continue to support our mission.”

The USTA Foundation Celebrity and Player Council is led by Emmy Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin as chairman and includes other notable members, including tennis legend Billie Jean King, world No. 30 women’s singles player Sloane Stephens, four-time Grand Slam singles champion and current U. S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier, three-time Grand Slam finalist and current U. S. Women’s Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez, former world No. 4 men’s singles player and two-time Grand Slam finalist Todd Martin, and past Wimbledon runner-up and four-time ATP tennis champion MaliVai Washington.