2018 Judy Devlin Fund

Northeast Region Judy Devlin Fund for Excellence in Badminton

In honor of Judy Devlin, the best player trained within the Northeast Region of the United States, the Northeast Region Badminton Association (NEBA) has created the Judy Devlin Fund for Excellence in Badminton.  This fund is intended to recognize both exemplary performance and provide financial support to players – junior or adult – to assist with their expenses in training and participation in the US Junior/Adult Nationals, Pan Am Junior/Adult Championships, World Junior/Adult Championships, or other major BWF and/or USAB sanctioned tournaments.  Awards may be granted once a year during spring based on the criteria below, subject to the resources available in the Fund. 

Judy Devlin (later Judy Hashman) is a former player who dominated badminton during her playing career, and won more major international titles than any other player of her era.  Devlin was trained by her Irish-born father Frank Devlin starting at the age of seven in Baltimore, Maryland, and over time developed a badminton game notable for its power, accuracy, and consistency. 

Devlin won 86 national and international titles, including 31 titles in the USA, 8 titles in Germany, 7 titles in Canada,  4 titles in Holland,  4 titles in Sweden, 3 titles in Ireland, 3 titles in Jamaica, 2 titles in Scotland, 2 titles at the European Badminton Championships, and a combined 19 titles in All England Open and English National competition. She competed before the establishment of an official world championships for individual players and before badminton's entry into the Olympic Games, but she was the third most successful player ever in the unofficial world championship of her time, the All England Badminton Championships, with 17 titles, 10 of them in women's singles and 7 in women's doubles.  She played on U.S. Uber Cup teams that won three successive world championships (1957, 1960, 1963).  From 1954 to 1967 Devlin dominated the women's singles event at the U.S. Open, winning 12 titles in 14 years, including 8 consecutive championships from 1956 to 1963. She has been inducted into the Halls of Fame of the Badminton World Federation, USA Badminton and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

In establishing this fund to provide travel stipends for elite competitive events, the Northeast Region hopes to help promising players follow in Judy Devlin’s footsteps.  Criteria used for awards include:

• Demonstrated excellence in badminton, based on ranking or results.
• Contribution in promoting interest and participation in badminton.
• Exemplary sportsmanship attitude in training and competition.
• Volunteerism in support of badminton projects including tournaments, demonstrations, clinics, school clubs, etc.
• Financial need.
• Level of Tournament and Event.
• Permanent resident in the Northeast Region.

Applications for funding can be found on the following websites:                                                                                                                                         

https://northeastbadminton.net/judy-devlin-fund/                      

http://www.massbad.org/web/judydevlin  

Send completed application to Joan Cayen at cayentjsnc@verizon.net by June 15, 2018. For questions, call 781-775-2478.                                                                                          

Applications should be submitted by players or their coaches to the Fund Chairperson and should include, in addition to the player’s personal information:

• Major badminton accomplishments in tournaments and projects
• Event for which funding request is made
• Estimated cost of participation (provide details)
• Funding level requested

The Committee will consist of at least three members of the Northeast Region badminton community who will be named by the Board of the Northeast Badminton Association.  The committee can choose to increase the number of committee members and may nominate individuals to serve with the approval of the Northeast Badminton Association Board.  The Committee will select its Chairperson from its members.

The JUDY DEVLIN FUND relies on badminton organizations and individuals for sustaining its ability to award funding to players.  Contributions to the Fund are tax deductible (EIN of NEBA is 22-2864879), and should be made via check made out to “Northeast Badminton Association” and sent to the Treasurer of the NEBA:

                Arthur Schwartz
                3 Bessom Street #151

                Marblehead, MA  01945-2371

Or, go to the MassBad website and donate using your Paypal account.  One hundred percent of your net donation (minus the Paypal processing fees) will be transferred by MassBad to Northeast Badminton Association for the Judy Devlin Fund on your behalf:

                www.massbad.org

Please click to start Your Donation

If you donate before June 25, 2018, you can stretch your dollar.  Boston Badminton Club has committed to contribute twice the amount raised! (i.e. for every $1000 raised, Boston Badminton will contribute $2000)

Send completed application to Joan Cayen at cayentjsnc@verizon.net. For questions, call 781-775-2478.