By Tamilia Hicks
VegasTennis.com's Marty Hennessy Jr. Tennis Foundation, James Johnson's North Las Vegas Community program and Lorenzi park teamed up to help offer the Gibson Middle School students and parents a free tennis Carnival.
The Carnival is the beginning of a Gibson Middle School free after school program that will include tennis and education opportunities.
With all the wide range of games and activities the children had fun and the chance to sign up for a new tennis club created by former league player and middle school teacher Mercedes Krause and her mother who plays league at Club Sport.
The tennis club started by Mercedes Krause in partnership with the Hennessy Foundation will give these children the chance to start an inner school league team and learn a sport for a lifetime.
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Mercedes who also played as a youngster, had an intriguing idea to start a tennis club after the reaction she got from the kids when they saw a clip from the previous U.S. Open on their school morning announcements."I saw how excited my students were once they saw the point being played, that's when I thought it would be a cool idea to start one."
The Marty Hennessy Foundation and the Lorenzi Racquet Club all put forth such an amazing effort to really make this event happen. The elite players in the Marty Hennessy jr Tennis Foundation's Leadership and travel team program did a superb job with teaching the middle school youth the game of tennis. One of the most popular activities at the carnival was a rallying game using the new quickstart format. A student had to rally ten consecutive times against a "junior pro" in orrder to win a prize. Once the kids really got into the game not only did they win, they also joined the tennis club. The kids were so enthused they kept jumping back in line for another try. They weren't just excited about the prizes they really had the determination to try and keep up with the rally. Not only did the kids love it, the players had a great time as well. It's always inspiring to see youth helping out with younger children. This could be the next stepping stone to the next tennis greats.
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The Gibson Middle School program is part of a new initiative at the Hennessy Foundation funded by the Tomchin Family Foundation. The initiative will provide after school and free community tennis programs in the 3 mile radius of the school.
"We want to make a significant impact on the lives of children and their families," explained Hilliary Heard the Foundations Executive Director. "Focusing on one area to help children as they go from elementary, to middle and high schools and hopefully into our leadership program allows us to stay with these children all the way until they get a college scholarship, which is our primary goal."
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Students in this program are also eligible for a free program provided by the Hennessy Foundation every Sunday at Lorenzi Park for the whole community. The students showing promise will also become eligible for the opportunity to take part in other Foundation programs such as the "East Right=Feel Right " program, "Positive Social Life Program", or the "Leadership" program that includes the opportunity to play tournaments and travel with the foundation.
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"To take a child from beginner to college it takes more then tennis, It takes mentoring, care, tutoring. Inspiration and the right environment, which is what we are trying to create," explained Heard. "We need the whole community to help and that is why we reach out to league players, parents and volunteers to get involved as coaches in the schools programs. We also have our elite players serve as coaches and mentors to the younger children, which inspires them even more."
I started tennis in a program like this at the Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club and now I play college tennis and will graduate this year, probably going to get my masters as well. Who knows where tennis will take these young children but it was very nice to be a part of it.
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