Tennis Racquets For Kids is Winding Down

Tennis Racquets for Kids Inc. will be closing its doors this Spring. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping less fortunate children experience the game of tennis by providing them with tennis racquets. We will fulfill our promises to various groups, but we will no longer accept requests for donations. This has been an unbelievable eight year journey. Tennis Racquets for Kids Inc., was co-founded by Zachary H. Mintz, and Paige J. Mintz, out of their love for the game of tennis and their desire to help all children have an opportunity to experience the game of tennis. Their vision, leadership and effort were indispensable. They have been active with the organization throughout its tenure. Over the last few years, Rachel Mintz has served in various leadership roles. We have brought smiles and happiness to over a thousand children. Less fortunate children were given an opportunity to experience the game of tennis. Our success was made possible by the hundreds of benevolent adults and children from across the United States who donated their used tennis racquets to our organization. We are especially grateful to the individual children who collected some new, as well as used tennis racquets, as part of school or church drives, or as part of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah projects. We are also grateful to the individual children who donated their own racquets. The cost of running the organization became too great. This included the cost and time in re-stringing and regripping the racquets and shipping them around the country. We were never able to find a corporate sponsor and depended on individuals who donated their time. This was an organization for children who would not have had an opportunity to experience the game of tennis. Tennis Racquets for Kids was enthusiastically embraced by children and adults from across the United States, to bring happiness to others! For that we are grateful, and our mission was accomplished. We will never forget the hugs and the smiles. We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for the pictures and notes sent to us from families, schools and organizations who received tennis racquets. We would suggest that anyone with racquets to donate contact nearby schools, charter schools, local day camps, summer park programs or their local USTA chapter. There are thousands of children in this country who would love to have an opportunity to experience the game of tennis. Please do not forget them and carry on the spirit of giving. We thank all of you for donating For The Love of the Game!!! Tennis Racquets For Kids Inc.

2013 Year in Review: Tennis Racquets for Kids

Tennis is a great activity for families and individuals. It is a great way to bring people of all skill levels together. You need a net,balls and a tennis racquet. Sounds simple, but it's not. Tennis racquets are expensive, and indoor court rates are prohibitive. It would be great if the weather was perfect throughout the year for all of us. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen and we can't always take advantage of the opportunity to use outdoor public courts. Some of us learned to play on park courts with metal nets. There was no topspin or slicing strategy, the ball changed direction based on the cracks in the asphalt. Yet we continued to love the game. Tennis Racquets for Kids Inc., is dedicated to providing all children with the opportunity to experience the game we love. Our success would not be possible without the help of individuals across the country who share this love. We receive racquets from people, especially children, from all parts of the United States. Sometimes it's a single racquet or a few racquets; sometimes a note is included saying how much joy the racquets brought their owners and how meaningful it is to them to continue channeling the racquets into the hands of other children. All tennis racquet donations are greatly appreciated. We are living in challenging economic times and what may be a weathered racquet to someone, is an opportunity for a child to start a tennis experience. We are a non-profit organization that is also challenged by the same economic times, and have lost our stringers who donated their time and materials to rejunvenate the donated racquets. Used Babolat, Wilson, Head, Prince, and Yonex,racquets represent a way to experience the game of tennis. Tennis Racquets for Kids is supported by regular people who play and enjoy the game and want to give others that same opportunity. Our sole focus is helping those less fortunate children experience the game of tennis. Throughout 2013, we have had many children stand up and want to make a difference by collecting tennis racquets as part of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah,church, or school projects to help others. S.R.collected over 50 racquets as a part of his Bar Mitzvah and C.W. collected approximately 275 racquets as part of her Bat Mitzvah project. J.F.,an avid junior tennis player, hosted a drive in New York City and drove a carload of tennis racquets out to our office in Long Island.These are a few examples of the generosity we have experienced. We survive with the help of the individual who will donate a single racquet to us. We received a financial donation from a high school tennis team in St. Louis which went to help defer our costs of re-gripping,re-stringing, and postage. This year we supported various schools that wanted to start tennis programs but the children could not afford to buy racquets. We supported after school programs including those dedicated to fighting childhood by promoting tennis as a weight- loss activity. Other programs supported were located in California, Michigan, Arizona, and New York. Various individual families also received racquets. Our goal remains helping less fortunate children experience the game of tennis. We look forward to the New Year and ask for your continued support to donate for the love of the game!

Gambia Tennis Association Flourishes with Help from Tennis Racquets for Kids

In 2011, Tennis Racquets for Kids helped support a tennis youth program in Gambia. Mr.Ofosuhene, a coordinator of the program has once again asked for our assistance. "Tennis Racquets for Kids was a tremendous help in getting the children the tennis racquets needed to facilitate the program. Through the generous donation of tennis racquets the program has expanded tremendously." Mr. Ofosuhene travels between Gambia and the United States and personally picked up the racquets and transported them to Gambia. We are very happy to continue to support this organization that has been able to introduce tennis,and sportsmanship to children who would not have had a chance to experience the game of tennis. We are impressed with the enthusiasm of the children and the dedication by the Gambia Tennis Association to support the children.

Tennis Racquets for Kids Gearing up For 2013

   Tennis Racquets for Kids  had an exciting year in 2012. We continued our mission of introducing the game of tennis to children who would not otherwise have that opportunity. Various schools, camps and religious organizations throughout the United States received help. Individual families were also assisted. Our hard work was recognized by the Eastern Section of the USTA who awarded us the Rose Buck Scalamandre Award for our charitable efforts.
   We were able to support the Nassau County Parks and Recreation summer day camp programs. Children who were not familiar with tennis had an opportunity to receive their own racquet and some instruction. The laughter and smiles were priceless. We also continued our work with the USTA Quick Start Tennis Day in Nassau County
    We still face many challenges. Our donations are through the good nature of individuals and families, and especially children who want to help other children. We have received racquets from school collection drives, Mitzvah Projects, church collections, as well as individual racquet donation. The kids are excited to receive their own racquet and start to experience the game of tennis. .We hope to one day find a sponsor or help from industry to make our path easier. Until that time, we Greatly Appreciate the help from people across the United States who donate for the Love of the Game,and allow us to continue our mission. Looking forward to a successful 2013. If you have any question regarding donations, please click on this link.

Long Island Tennis Magazine Features Tennis Racquets For Kids,Inc.

Long Island Tennis Magazine, featured Tennis Racquets for Kids Inc., in its charitable iniative section in the March/April edition. The magazine is designed to promote and develop the sport of tennis on every level in the community.

In the spirit of community, Tennis Racquets for Kids, was acknowledged for their dedication to provide every child an opportunity to play tennis. This non-profit, tennis charity was the brain child of twin high school tennis players, who realized that their outgrown racquets would provide a wonderful opportunity for children who could not afford their own tennis racquets. They realized that other tennis players would also have old racquets laying around that would be cherished by those who were less fortunate.

The concept has grown in the community, and has already extended to other parts of the nation. With the phrase, "Donate for the Love of the Game!", people have have come forward to donate their old racquets at local drop off sites, or shipped their racquets to the Tennis Racquets For Kids Inc., directly. Tennis Centers are also getting involved. Temples and churches have collected racquets to support this tennis charity.

Even in these difficult times, people have opened their hearts and realized this opportunity to start to make the world a better place. Think of the impact that could be created if every tennis center, every tennis pro, every recreational or serious tennis player, and industry, would take a moment and realize this great opportunity.

We hope that we can all take a moment to " Donate For the Love of the Game" To bring smiles to children, and to bring families together!!

WestHampton Beach Tennis & Sport Supports Tennis Racquets for Kids

Tennis Racquets For Kids Inc. is grateful to WestHampton Beach Tennis and Sport for embracing our charity. Tennis Racquets for Kids Inc., is a non profit organization dedicated to the distribution of donated tennis racquets to individual children or to organizations or charities that represent children in need of such racquets. Owner, Scott Ferguson agreed that previously owned tennis racquets, which are often discarded, represent an opportunity to help children who otherwise might not be able to afford them. He was excited to help recycle these used tennis racquets which will now be provided to less fortunate children. A collection box was set up at the facility and racquets were placed in a drop box. We are thankful to WestHampton Beach Tennis and Sport, owner Scott Ferguson, and the WestHampton community for their overwhelming generosity and continued support in helping underprivileged children realize their dreams. A special thank you is also extended to Ms. Pam Shields for her extraordinary personal interest and contribution.

If you have any questions regarding the charity, or how to donate tennis racquets, visit TennisRacquetsforKids.org