With the 2024 collegiate tennis season well underway, the ITA would like to highlight several teams and student-athletes who have been making a difference in their communities this spring.
The teams featured this month include Niagara, Binghamton, Stanford, USC, Louisville, Coastal Alabama South, and XULA who spent time volunteering with initiatives such as the Elmwood Village Charter Tennis Immersion Day, Second Serve, the U of L Garden Commons, Dream Court, and Son of a Saint. Meanwhile, on an individual level, former college tennis standout, Cam Norrie (TCU), helped give back leading up to the Miami Open when he volunteered with the organization Health in the Hood.
To find out more about each of these acts of community service, continue reading below:
Niagara and Binghamton Tennis Teams Host Elmwood Village Charter School Tennis Immersion Day
The Niagara University and Bingham University men’s and women’s tennis teams participated in a unique project in the landscape of college athletics, bringing together four varsity programs from two different schools to provide a free tennis clinic in the city of Buffalo, New York at the Elmwood Village Charter School.
The free clinic emulated the importance of striving together to improve, learn and grow with people from all over the world.
Stanford and USC Men’s Tennis Teams Partner with Second Serve
The Stanford and USC men’s tennis programs collaborated with Second Serve, a non-profit organization dedicated to making tennis accessible to children worldwide.
At the event, feature raffles and giveaways were held to encourage donations of new or gently used tennis equipment. Fans attending the event were encouraged to bring tennis racquets, bags, and shoes to donate to Second Serve. In return, participants were entered into a raffle to win various prizes.
The collected equipment from the event will be redistributed through Second Serve’s trusted partner programs in East Palo Alto with East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring (EPATT), Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the US Virgin Islands, providing under-resourced children with the opportunity to play tennis.
Louisville Women’s Tennis Gardens On Campus
Players from the Louisville Women’s Tennis Team tended to the University of Louisville Garden Commons, a community space for learning about organic urban agriculture, more sustainable food systems and building resilient communities.
The opportunity to harvest, week, water and plant in the Garden Commons is open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members throughout the entire year.
Coastal Alabama South Serves as Coaches for Dream Court
Coastal Alabama South Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams came together to serve as coaches for Dream Court, a non-profit organization that provides an adaptive tennis program for individuals with physical, developmental, and / or intellectual disabilities, striving for inclusion and acceptance.
XULA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Volunteers with Son of a Saint
The XULA Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams completed two hours of community service with Son of a Saint, an organization committed to providing mentorship, education, recreation, camaraderie, cultural enrichment, and emotional support to thousands of young boys and men who have grown up without a father.
The organization’s inception is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of positive influences in the lives of young men.
Cam Norrie Gives Back in Miami
World No. 31 Cam Norrie (TCU), along with other players, teamed up with Miami Open Unites, ATP Serves, and the WTA Foundation this month to volunteer with Health in the Hood.
The nonprofit connects food insecure communities in Miami to more nutritious food and healthier, happier lives through urban farming, free produce distribution and nutrition guidance, and other community engagement programs.
