NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jun 18, 2015) - BNP Paribas today announces today that it is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2015 "CityParks Tennis" program, an initiative providing free tennis lessons to thousands of children between the ages of six and 16 in more than 35 parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The program will commence on July 6, 2015 and runs through August 14.

One of the largest free municipal tennis programs in the United States, these classes promote physical fitness while building self-confidence, and are designed to make the sport of tennis available to children who want to learn the game in a fun, relaxed environment. Lessons are offered at all skill levels, including free beginner lessons. Tournaments, leagues, excellence programs and special events will be organized throughout the course of the program.

The event will conclude with a tournament held at the Central Park Tennis Center for beginners and the BNP Paribas Aces Tournament held at Flushing Meadows Tennis Center for intermediates in mid-August.

Outlining the motivation for the sponsorship, Jean-Yves Fillion, CEO, BNP Paribas North America and Head of the Americas for CIB, stated: "The game of tennis is a wonderful reminder of the dual-paths to success, through both individual performance and teamwork. It is a pleasure to support this initiative which teaches children the value of sportsmanship while concurrently demonstrating all that can be achieved through a commitment to self-improvement."

BNP Paribas is the world's largest sponsor of tennis and has been a strong supporter of the sport for 42 years, starting as the official sponsor of Roland Garros in 1973 and expanding the commitment through sponsorship of events across the globe, including the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York, the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.

BNP Paribas is very committed to the communities in which it operates and the bank has a strong focus on volunteering. In 2014 BNP Paribas 1,379 employees took part in over 50 philanthropic initiatives, partnering with 17 community organizations, including Partnership for Parks, a sister program to City Parks Tennis  Projects included revitalizing neighborhood parks and green spaces, prepping and packing meals, and participating in educational and recreational programs provided to children and families living with medical challenges.

For more information on the 2015 CityParks Tennis program, visit http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/sports/tennis/

About BNP Paribas Group
BNP Paribas has operations in 75 countries and boasts more than 185,000 employees, including approximately 145,000 in Europe. It ranks highly in its two core activities: Retail Banking & Services (comprised of Domestic Markets and International Financial Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail banking model across Mediterranean basin countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas and solid and fast-growing businesses in Asia-Pacific

About City Parks Foundation
City Parks Foundation (CPF) is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. We work in more than 350 parks citywide, presenting a broad range of programs in an effort to promote healthy and vibrant communities. Our programs and community building initiatives reach 425,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks reflect thriving communities. For more details, please visit www.CityParksFoundation.org.