Lisa S. Hoffstein, a New York native and University of Pennsylvania graduate, has been involved in the world of competitive tennis since the age of ten. As an Eastern ranked tennis junior she played high school tennis on the Great Neck South boys’ team, eventually marrying the team’s #1 singles player.
A great source of pride for Hoffstein is the fact that she was her college coach Cissie Leary’s first recruit. She played third singles and first doubles for Leary’s Penn varsity squad, elected captain her senior year. Playing tennis for Penn remains among Lisa’s fondest memories, and her college teammates continue to be amongst her closest life-time friends.
Professionally, Hoffstein has been focused on education and improving the lives of inner-city children. After classroom teaching she earned her MBA from The Wharton School and applied her passions to developing and managing programs for urban communities. For 14 years she designed and implemented outreach models for The Milken Foundations, serving as the National Executive Director of the University Community Outreach Program.
In 1997 she received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rolex Achievement Award – awarded to a past participant in varsity collegiate tennis in recognition of outstanding career achievements and contributions to society.
In 2006 Hoffstein founded The Katie At The Bat Team – A Nonprofit Helping Kids Hit Home Runs In Life. KATB has introduced hundreds of inner-city Philadelphia children to the joys, disciplines and rewards of athletics. She authored Katie At The Bat integrating the book’s “believe in yourself” message throughout the outreach programs. KATB was awarded Nonprofit Organization of the Year by the Philadelphia Area Tennis District and was one of six organizations state-wide to be selected for support by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
One of Hoffstein’s favorite pastimes was to serve as coach of the Philadelphia Junior Maccabi tennis team in 2011, 36 players including her daughter, who won a silver medal.
Hoffstein continues to compete and in 2011 was ranked #12 nationally in the Women’s 45 doubles and #19 in the Husband and Wife Combined 100s.
