When Jake Hammerman’s summer plans were abruptly changed due to COVID-19, he combined something he knew, tennis, with the idea of giving back to the community. The Lafayette teen founded Impactful Tennis, a way for him and his friends to make a positive impact by using the summer to give back through offering tennis lessons to 7- to 13-year-olds in Lamorinda in exchange for charitable donations to the area nonprofit Meals on Wheels Diablo Region.
Hammerman’s goal was to raise more than $10,000 this summer. He gave his first lesson the last week of school, on May 25 and by July 6, he and his fellow instructors had given 227 tennis lessons and raised $8,680, a remarkable accomplishment, and they’re not done yet. The incoming sophomore at Moraga’s Campolindo High School wanted to find a way to help his community and set his goals on both ends of the age spectrum — the elderly because they’ve been hit harder by the pandemic and youth with summer plans canceled and activities needed to fill the void. Since tennis can be played with social distancing, his plan was set.
“I wanted to make a difference in my community. I think Impactful Tennis benefits everyone who takes part, from the players who are getting exercise doing a new sport, improving their skills and getting outside, to the seniors who are benefiting from the donations that are being made,” Hammerman said. “I think if kids are playing tennis, an activity that keeps them socially distant and they enjoy, it might keep them from doing other activities that might help COVID-19 spread more, so I thought I could use my tennis skills to teach lessons to help raise money for charity.”
Hammerman recruited instructors from his friends, the tennis team and some area coaches. The 45-minute private lessons take place on public and private courts all throughout Lamorinda, with adherence to social distancing based on U.S. Tennis Association guidelines and other safety measures. The suggested donation is $30 per lesson. Registration is done through the website, impactfultennis.org, with clients receiving an email with information about instructors, locations and 90 time slots for a 3.5-week period. Donations are made after the lessons.
Hammerman gives about 30 lessons a week, four to five hours a day, seven days a week and teaching all levels, from those who have never held a racket before to others who are very advanced and ready to learn higher skills. Requests for lessons have been very popular, outnumbering slots and requiring the need for more instructors.
“The Number One thing we’re looking for is instructors because there’s so much demand,” he said.“I’m looking for someone who has worked with kids before and has the tennis skills in order to be able to teach; someone who can give a fun lesson to kids and also help them improve.”
Knowing he wanted to donate the money from lessons to a group that helps the elderly, Hammerman did some research on charities in the community and learned about Meals on Wheels Diablo Region.
“I see how hard this has been for my grandparents even though they have support all around them, and it makes me sad to think that many seniors are going through this pandemic scare alone,” he said. “I learned of the great work of Meals on Wheels, so I reached out to them and learned they are experiencing increased needs for their services due to the pandemic.”
Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is experiencing a 40% increase in requests for home-delivered meals, companionship and services for seniors during the pandemic, making the money raised by Impactful Tennis very welcome.
“I feel very lucky that Jake has chosen us as his nonprofit of choice; it’s really inspiring that young people today are realizing the impact that the pandemic has on older folk and looking at ways they can give back to those who are most vulnerable to the pandemic,” said MOWDR executive director Caitlin Sly. “Older folks are so often forgotten by society in general that to see the younger generation thinking about them and caring for them gives me hope for the future.”
The money raised will have a big impact on the number of people who will receive meals, a friendly phone call and other services to seniors that focus on keeping them independent and living at home for as long as possible. Sly has high praise for Hammerman and sees him as an example to others of the possibilities when one thinks creatively.
“For any young person, they can take what they’re good at, what they’re interested in, and make it into something creative and a way to give back,” she said. “I’m just hopeful that other young folks are inspired by his story and are able to do something similar.”
As for the Lafayette teen, he’s gratified to see improvement in the youth taking his classes, giving them the opportunity to be outside getting exercise and learning a new sport. He’s also on the same page as Sly.
“I’d like this story to inspire others to do something similar to help out our community. Hopefully I’d like to get more instructors and clients,” he said. “Also to point out the great work that MOWDR is doing and for people to become aware of their impact on the community.”
FYI
Impactful Tennis: impactfultennis.org (registration and instructor sign-up forms available here)
Meals on Wheels Diablo Region: mowdiabloregion.org
