Kids Serving Kids: Lincoln-Sudbury Tennis Player Shares Joy of the Sport to Underserved Kids

SUDBURY, MA—Growing up, Will Tarini, a junior at Lincoln-Sudbury High School and co-captain of the tennis team, was fortunate enough to have the equipment he needed to play the game he loved.

He learned that it wasn't the case with so many underprivileged kids, kids who may also want to enjoy the game of tennis.

In December of 2014, Tarini founded the Boston Chapter of KidsServing Kids (KSK). KSK is a nationwide program established in 2007 that donates recycled tennis rackets to underserved kids.

"The goals of the BostonChapter are to spread the joy of tennis to children in need and give them an opportunity to experience a great game they may never considered playing," Tarini told Patch.

Throughout May and June of last year, Tarini and his teammates collected more than 120 new and gently-used rackets, as well as $2,500, which allowed them to give each child his or her own racket to begin the journey.

"We used the money to buy supplies and give the kids prizes," he said, "such as cans of tennis balls and a customized Kids Serving KidsBoston drawstring bag, convenient for carrying their racket and tennis swag.

During the summer, the team also conducted four-hour tennis clinics every Friday from July to August for 100 kids at the Holy Family Summer camp in Dorchester. Most of the kids who attend the summer camp also attend the Catholic Academy of Pope John Paul II.

"This is a school in Dorchester that I have volunteered at for the past two years with friends from my church on several Saturdays during the winter months," said Tarini. The tennis clinics were held at the Boston College High School tennis courts and conducted by Tarini and other Lincoln-Sudbury varsity tennis team members.

The program was a huge success and Tarini wanted to expand the program this summer in order to inspire more kids to play the game.

"Last summer, clinics were a huge success," said Tarini. "More than 100 kids had blast learning the basics of tennis and playing a collection of games including jail, alligator, and king of the court. Although some kids were a bit tentative at first about this strange, new game, by the end of the clinic they walked away big smiles on their faces. Much to my delight, a couple of the older kids said I inspired them to try out for their high school tennis team next year."

When he graduates high school and goes onto college, Tarini hopes to pass on the leadership of KSK Boston to a younger member of the Lincoln-Sudbury tennis team to continue its mission of spreading the joy of tennis to underserved kids.