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St. Luke’s Girls Tennis Hosts Clothing Drive in Support of Norwalk Grassroots Tennis
This year, the St. Luke’s Girls Varsity Tennis team held a clothing drive in May to benefit Norwalk Grassroots Tennis (NGT). The team collected gently used tennis clothing, sneakers and rackets. In addition, the team held two bake sales and thanks to the generosity of the St. Luke’s Community, they were able to raise more than $430 to benefit NGT. The team looks forward to a continued relationship with NGT in the future.
Head varsity coach Brinley Ehlers is especially proud of the work her team put into this effort: “Senior Captain Sanjana Chintalapudi has been a volunteer at NGT for years. I am so happy that we have created this relationship with this great organization. A love of tennis is something we all have in common and I know that our efforts will help Norwalk kids. I am really proud of my team!”
More information on the great work that Norwalk Grassroots Tennis does is available on their website:
“Our program began in 1995. It operates on tennis courts at the two largest properties of the Norwalk Housing Authority. In each of the last two years over 400 children participated, almost all are members of minority groups. All are economically disadvantaged. The program is entirely free to the children. We provide everything without charge…instruction equipment, competitions and occasional trips. We have continued to expand our services every year and now offer extensive tutoring, educational support, life skills education, nutrition programs and assistance with the college admissions process.…Through tennis, we work to improve the youngsters understanding and acceptance of rules, their courtesy, self confidence and powers of observation and concentration…and several of our players have achieved junior USTA rankings and school scholarships. Most importantly, we have seen many children become more courteous, more considerate and more skilled players.Norwalk Grassroots Tennis has won awards from the USTA both as an outstanding beginners program, the 2010 National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter of the year and the 2003 Community Tennis Association of The Year in New England. Tennis Week magazine selected us as one of the 25 outstanding Community Tennis Associations in the United States. The number of children participating in our program has steadily increased. We have acquired and retained the confidence of our partners in the community: The Norwalk Housing Authority, the Norwalk Police Activities League, A.C.H.I.E.V.E, and the administration of the City of Norwalk.”
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
