Second Serve: Empowering Underprivileged Youth Through Tennis
Imagine the joy of hitting a tennis ball, the thrill of competition, and the camaraderie of the sport. Yet, for many underprivileged youth, this dream remains elusive due to the lack of access to essential equipment, particularly tennis racquets.
Enter Second Serve, a non-profit organization founded by sisters Ayanna and Amani Shah. Since its inception five years ago, Second Serve has distributed over 20,000 racquets and 10,000 pieces of gently used tennis gear to individuals worldwide.
Inspired by a program for underprivileged children in Mexico, the Shah sisters launched Second Serve in San Diego. They collected equipment from friends and family and donated it to local organizations. As the initiative gained momentum, donation boxes were placed at various locations across the country.
Today, Second Serve relies on a network of hundreds of volunteers, primarily teenagers, who collect and distribute donated items. On a recent Impact Week, the organization donated 220 items to six high schools in the Los Angeles area, where over 90% of students are economically disadvantaged.
“This equipment is a conduit for keeping kids as healthy as possible,” said Ayanna Shah. “It’s about providing opportunities for those who might not otherwise have access to the sport.”
Second Serve’s impact extends beyond the United States. The organization has partnered with programs in Uganda, Mexico, India, Haiti, Nigeria, and Argentina, donating thousands of items to underprivileged communities.
“We want to get as many kids into the sport as possible,” said Ayanna Shah. “Tennis teaches valuable life lessons, such as perseverance, teamwork, and sportsmanship.”
Second Serve’s efforts have garnered recognition, including the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award from ESPN. The organization’s mission is to continue empowering underprivileged youth through the transformative power of tennis.
