Art for Gorillas

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Thanks John & the United States Tennis Association

Category: Art of Conservation (AoC), John Terpkosh, Sports for Gorillas, USTA | Date: Nov 10 2008 | By: Julie

I walked to the nearby post office and found a box waiting for me sent by John Terpkosh - a member of the United States Tennis Association / Missouri Valley. Inside the box I discovered cool USTA pens, balloons, and little soaps John picks up along the way. “Yep, these gifts will go over just fine with the kids!” I thought to myself.

Please click here and here for previous Sports for Gorillas blogs and learn how this little tennis club of 13 kids came to be - with the generous support from John and Coach Bunny Bruning.

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Sure enough, the young tennis players and Coach Tony are very pleased with the pens!

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Coach Tony models the team t-shirt and gives the thumbs up to the USTA gifts.

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Gentille and Clementine, such darling girls, are happy!

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Sports for Gorillas Tennis Team - Musanze - Rwanda.

Coach Tony and I will be speaking with Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth. We must find support to improve the tennis club and make the sport more accessible for all Rwandans. I constantly hear children calling out to me, “Julie, tennisi.” I wish I could give every child a racket, tennis shoes, balls, and Coach Tony!

Thank you again John!

3 Responses to “Thanks John & the United States Tennis Association”

Mary Buschmann, on 10 Nov 2008

What a terrific group, Julie. How many children do you work with and what are their ages? What would be your ultimate wish for number of racquets?

What great artists! Love the pictures of the gorillas.

Julie (Art for Gorillas), on 11 Nov 2008

Hi Mary, It is such a great group of kids and they are dedicated! Total - there are 13 kids - age 7 to 12. Bunny, Andy Susanin, and my mom got all the kids going with junior rackets and adult rackets. We are in definite need of new rackets for them all. Bunny got us tennis shoes and high altitude balls - we’re set with the balls but most kids are outgrowing the shoes or the shoes are nearly disintegrated! So for rackets - younger kids can use the ‘hand me downs’ but 10 new adult rackets would be the ultimate wish. Tennis props for drills and activities would be fun too. They come up with all kinds of ideas with the big navy blue USPTA banner.

I mentioned in the blog that I am really pushing Coach Tony to move the team up to registered status through the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Tony is capable of doing this and building the team. Please consider bringing a USTA player or coach here once we accomplish this!

Mary - thanks for getting in touch - speak with you again later.

Julie

Mary B., on 11 Nov 2008

What a joy to see all the beautiful smiling faces! It’s wonderful the USTA is lending a hand to spread tennis around the world. From art and conservation to tennis and many things in between, your efforts are truly inspiring, Julie. Bravo!

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