Philanthropy Today Interviews Say Yes To Tennis Director

Philanthropy Today: How did Say Yes To Tennis get started? 

In a word, torture. I was playing tennis one day and when I went to the fence to retrieve a ball I noticed two young kids gazing at me. This happened several times and each time I went to get the ball I could sense them communicating with me. Like, hey man why don’t you teach us to play tennis. You know we live in the development (pictured below) you know we have talent and you know we can’t afford it.

Though moved, I shook it off. 

I was teaching tennis at Balch Street Athletic Club and one of the students in my class was a little lady named Ann Marie Barnes. During one of our breaks she shared that she had done volunteer work on Indian reservations which prompted me to say that one day I was going to start a program for kids in the development where I was raised as a child. 

Well she never let me forget that sentiment. She kept pestering me to get started. Finally, I caved in started the process of incorporating and that’s how we started. She and I as co-founders.

In 1975 I was living a life that was not going anywhere. I was drinking way too much which only paralleled my gambling. But through a series of astounding events which most would term super natural I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Of course that meant I had to drastically change my life style. Being an extrovert I was in need of things to do along with attending church services.

I went to football practice at Elizabeth Park to watch my younger brother and there I saw a friend, Larry Dorsey playing tennis. He invited me to play but I refused citing the usual suspects, tennis is a sissy sport, tennis is a white man’s game etc, and its boring. I eventually gave in and played with him. I had a ball and the rest is history.

Lots and lots of stories as faces of kids flash before me. 

We been fortunate enough to provide experiences to kids that most could never have afforded: 

Trips to Notre Dame University to meet the tennis coach and teammates

Tours of the university

Meet and compete against other kids from the Midwest

Attend national trainings in Florida and in Indiana

Exposure to some of the top science teachers in the state

Summer camps at Atwood Lodgeand Seven Springs Resort

Philanthropy Today: You began as a drug prevention program, have emphasized mentoring, academic achievement, behavior skills etc. Have your perspectives changed on the needs that young people have? 

Yes, kids need the programs you listed but there is something more specifically that they need. 

John Ortberg, in his book “Everyone is Normal Till You Get to Know Them”, talks about the first fact that the writer of Genesis records about the man and the woman after their creation is that “they were both naked, and were not ashamed. I’ve never heard a sermon on that. Why does the writer say that? Did they work out a lot and had awesome physiques?

The writer is talking about the deepest of all human longings. The longing to know and be known. Watch preschool children at recess:  “Lookit me!” they will yell---at their teacher, a parent or a total stranger walking across the playground. To be seen, affirmed and celebrated is to know that life is good.