Second Serve and Tennis Donations Gives Direction to Underserved Communities
Amani Shah (‘22), co-founder and CEO of the non-profit organization Second Serve, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of underprivileged kids who love tennis. Second Serve aims to give all kids equal opportunity to play by supporting them with the equipment they need.
“[Tennis] has allowed me to develop my character and has also given me countless opportunities to grow,” Shah says. Shah says she has played tennis for as long as she can remember, and it is a huge part of her life.
“I really believe that sports can change lives and uplift communities,” Shah says. She said this idea fueled the creation of Second Serve.
Shah says that equipment people barely use could be in the hands of a grateful kid and help them to get started with a new sport. With a passion for giving back, Second Serve’s mission is to redistribute lightly used tennis equipment from tournament players and tennis clubs to underprivileged kids to facilitate their involvement in sports.
“We want to cultivate a positive environment in underserved communities and give kids direction in order to stay out of drugs, gangs, and violence,” Shah says. By reducing the financial burden of tennis for children, Shah says a healthy lifestyle can be promoted.
“Tennis is such a phenomenal game that builds character, creates long-lasting friendships, and brings joy to so many,” Shah says. “I hope to be able to spread this joy to as many kids as I can as I truly believe sport has the power to uplift communities and change lives.”
Second Serve now has international ties with 41 young leaders between the ages of 12 and 17 in 18 states and eight partnerships in countries like Uganda, Nigeria, and India, among others.
Second Serve has donated over 8,240 items, including tennis rackets, tennis bags, shoes, and clothes, to children within 25 states and 8 different countries around the world.
In addition, the company has expanded the team to include 40 Second Serve presidents around the country, each of whom collect and distribute donations to children in need.
“We are so excited as we believe these kids will be so happy to learn how to play and it will bring so much excitement to the community,” Shah says. “We are hoping to continue to expand our international impact, as this is the area where we feel we can make the greatest difference.”
The organization hopes that by introducing the sport into the lives of the children there, they can bring them some much needed happiness and joy.
Second Serve can be found online at secondserve.com.