- November 18, 2024
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Players of Israel Tennis Centers, Shadi, Alona, Nitzan and Gabi with their coach Noam Yitzhaki
Faye Dannick and Manny Ares
Tracy and Hal Munter
Vice President of Development Yoni Yair, Amy Hendricks, Mary Gratehouse, Larry Greenspon, Tracy and Hal Munter and Executive Vice President of Global Development Jacqueline Goldstein
Howard Tevlowitz, Ian Howard and Randy and Susan Mallitz
Yoni Yair introduces the four Israel Tennis Center players and their coach.
Nitzan, 12, was the youngest players on this year’s exhibition team.
Yoni Yair introduces Shadi, 17, to the crowd.
Yoni Yair introduces Alona, 20, to the crowd. Alona has been going to an Israel Tennis Center for 10 years and was the team captain on this trip.
Noam Yitzhaki coached the four players during this year’s exhibition to New York and Florida. The team did 14 exhibitions- two in New York and 12 in Florida.
Nitzan, 12, anticipates a serve from coach Noam Yitzhaki
Gabi, 15, is all smiles during the exhibition at the Longboat Key Club Tennis Gardens on March 15.
Shadi, 17, said this was his first time in Florida. He plans to apply to U.S. colleges in two years.
Alona, 20, said the people she has met in Florida have been warm toward her and the other players.
Shadi, 17, high fives the audience as he runs drills during the exhibition on March 15.
The four tennis players ran through various drills with coach Noam Yitzhaki during the exhibition.
The Israel Tennis Centers players took the court at the Longboat Key Club’s tennis gardens with confidence and ease on March 15.
It was the last stop on their three-week tour around New York and Florida, so though they had already done a dozen exhibitions, a lot of their confidence was built up before they even left Israel.
The four players came from four different Israel Tennis Centers, the largest social-service agency for children in Israel. The foundation teaches children aged 5 to 18 life skills through the medium of tennis, but the foundation does more than give tennis lessons.
For Nitzan, 12, the youngest player on the exhibition tour, Israel Tennis Centers teaches its kids love, values and fun.
“It’s not just going and playing tennis with your friends,” she said. “It’s so much more.”
That’s the point of the exhibitions. Although the players participate in various tennis drills, they share their life stories with the crowd at dinners. The 14 tennis centers are located in Israel facing economic hardships. The soon-to-be 15th center will be located in Sderot, near the Gaza Strip.
From Gabi, 15, who has severe hearing loss, but doesn’t let that interfere with his interactions with supporters, to Shadi, 17, who plans to apply for college in two years, the centers give the kids confidence on the tennis court and off. Executive Vice President for Global Development Jacqueline Goldstein said all the kids have dreams and life goals.
And for the directors of the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation, bringing players to the U.S. is like bringing Israel to the community, Vice President of Development Yoni Yair said.
“What is special is meeting the wonderful people who are passionate about the future of Israel and the children of Israel,” Yair said.
