We are at a school in a community where no one plays tennis,” said Dan Castillo, tennis coach at one of the recent schools Second Serve visited, Phineas Banning High School in Los Angeles. “When kids try out for the team, that’s probably the first time they’ve held a racquet in their hands.”
Programs like the one at Banning typically provide racquets in communal fashion, the players often using different frames each time they play. “So the chance to have your own racquet is fantastic,” said Castillo.
Yvette Galicia, tennis coach at Artesia High School, was grateful for both the racquets and shoes. “Second Serve has brought a lot of excitement and a lot of pride,” she said. “It brought our girls closer.”
In the United States, Second Serve donates to a variety of organizations, including NJTL chapters, Boys and Girls Clubs, and YMCAs. Second Serve has also partnered with many organizations all over the world, donating 2,900 items to programs in Uganda, nearly 1,200 in both Mexico and India, 600 to Haiti, 500 to Nigeria, and 300 in Argentina.
“We want to get as many kids into the sport as possible,” said Ayanna.
