The Impact of XS Tennis Education Foundation: Changing Lives Through Tennis
Have you ever wondered how sports can impact and change someone’s life? Tennis, one of the most popular sports globally, has been lifting and uplifting individuals, communities, and entire nations for centuries. The XS Tennis Education Foundation is an institution that has been creating a positive impact on youth for over a decade. Founded in 2005 by Kamau Murray, a former tennis player, its primary objective was to offer tennis lessons and make them affordable to children and families from low-income households in Chicago’s South Side. However, it has expanded its mission over the years and currently prides itself on being more than just a tennis academy but a life-skills and education program, changing the lives of the children who enroll.
The Beginning of XS Tennis Education Foundation
Kamau Murray started the XS Tennis Education Foundation in honor of his late mother, who loved and played tennis. Kamau, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, found his love for tennis later in life and successfully played professionally. However, he recognized the limited access to tennis in the black community, especially by children from low-income households, who could not afford the pricey lessons and equipment fees. He decided to create an institution that would give these children and their families affordable access to tennis, and this led to the foundation’s creation.
XS Tennis Education Foundation’s Objectives
One of the primary objectives of XS Tennis is to offer affordable tennis instruction and equipment to children and families from low-income households in Chicago’s South Side. However, the foundation goes beyond tennis; it also includes off-the-court life skills classes, including financial literacy, resume writing, career skills, and academic support. Additionally, the foundation equips teenagers and young adults with mentors who tackle issues such as mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, and decision-making.
The Impact of XS Tennis Education Foundation
The XS Tennis Education Foundation has served over 4,500 children and has helped many of them gain acceptance into colleges across the United States. The foundation has supported players who have gone on to achieve success in their tennis careers, with six of its players navigating to the elite level of the professional game. However, the foundation does not focus solely on tennis. During COVID-19, the foundation has worked tirelessly to provide nutritious meals for families in need, delivering over 67,000 meals to families on the South Side throughout the pandemic.
Conclusion
Founded as a tennis academy for low-income families, XS Tennis Education Foundation has transformed into a life-skills and educational programming institution that impacts the lives of the children and families who enroll. The foundation has contributed positively to the community, providing affordable access to tennis, mentoring, education, and life skills for underprivileged children. Therefore, XS Tennis Education Foundation is a testament to the power of sports in changing lives and inspiring the next generation.
