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.

Children's Sport Connection Event - Nassau County

TRFK, Inc. donated fifty tennis racquets at a Children’s Sport Connection event held in Nassau County, NY. The event was spearheaded by Edward Mangano, the Nassau County Executive. The purpose of the event was to collect gently used sports equipment for a month-long period to benefit Adults and Children with Learning & Developmental Disabilities, Inc. This organization has more than twenty group homes in Nassau County as well as a youth program for those with developmental and learning disabilities. Additionally, the month-long drive will also benefit programs throughout the county.   

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.

Nicholas Sweeney, an Ohio Student, Donates Racquets to TRFK, Inc.

Nicholas Sweeney, a student at the Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio found out about Tennis Racquets for Kids, Inc. on the internet. An avid tennis player himself, Nick decided that he wanted to do something to help us collect racquets. So, Nick managed to collect 31 racquets and 22 tennis racquet bags. Nick and his family drove to Long Island, to drop off the racquets. Thanks so much for following through on your devotion to our cause and your love of the game.

Fallon Berger, Seventh Grade Student, Holds Tennis Racquet Drive

Fallon Berger, a seventh grader at Jericho Middle School in Long Island, NY held a tennis racquet drive for a community service project in conjunction with her becoming a Bat Mitzvah. Fallon collected fifty tennis racquets, several of them new, and donated them to our organization. We are so thankful for Fallon's generousity. In addition, since Fallon is also a passionate tennis player, a relative made a generous monetary donation to TRFK, Inc. which allows us to purchase supplies to refurbish the racquets we collect.

TRFK, Inc. Participates in Mitzvah Fair

Tennis Racquets for Kids, Inc. participated in a Mitzvah Fair held at Temple Beth Shalom in Roslyn, NY today. Vendors from various nonprofit community service organizations set up information booths at the fair, so that students at the Hebrew school can become aware of different ways they can become involved. Many students were interested in our organization, and we encourage them to lend a helping hand.