Watching the news and seeing what seniors were going through during the pandemic really stuck with me. I thought about my own grandparents who struggle from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and I wanted to find a way to help them.
I started giving tennis lessons to youth in the community, but instead of receiving payment, I asked for donations to be sent to Meals on Wheels. The tennis lessons received a lot of interest, and I knew that there was potential to create something bigger, and I started to get other high school tennis athletes to join me. Now, four summers in, we have a team of 30 instructors that have given over 900 tennis lessons and raised $40,000 for Meals on Wheels.
Seeing the joy on seniors’ faces is really rewarding. It’s not just about the meals, it’s also about the human connection. Each generation can learn a lot from each other. It’s been really inspiring to see the dedication my peers and friends have brought to Impactful Tennis. Together we’re creating impact and supporting seniors.