MEDAL OF KINDNESS

Lauren Rahr

Lauren Rahr is a high school teacher and girls varsity tennis coach at Lyme Old Lyme High School in Connecticut. After Madison Keys lost in the US Open semifinals last September, our team received the nicest email from Lauren. It was a little kindness that made a lot of difference.

This year, Lauren’s team is going into their fourth season with her as the head coach (and her dad as assistant). The team has had an incredible winning record the last few years, but this season is filled with fresh faces. Lauren wanted to know if Madison had any advice or inspirational words for her new team, knowing it would mean the world to them. Thank you Lauren for reaching out to make someone feel better AND looking for a great way to motivate your team. You exemplify kindness every day and we’re happy to celebrate you!

Reese Brantmeier

Reese Brantmeier, a collegiate tennis player at the University of North Carolina, has been raising money to restore two local tennis courts for the neighborhood surrounding the elementary school she attended in Wisconsin, an idea she’s talked about since she started playing tennis as a child. Through the years these courts have deteriorated and become unplayable and Reese has vowed to bring them back to share her love of tennis with the next generation!

Kindness Wins was so touched by Reese’s efforts and gave her a $5000 grant toward the Reese Brantmeier Project to help get her closer to her fundraising goal. Visit www.reesebrantmeierproject.com for more on what Reese is doing!

Larry Scheper

Coach Larry Scheper is a huge part of his Beaufort, South Carolina community, offering free instructional youth tennis clinics to the community and making a difference with every forehand and backhand he teaches.

“His primary goal has always been to support the local youth and assist them in developing their skills as he provides a foundation for the life-long sport of tennis,” said Donna Winland, who nominated Larry for his medal. “With his help, a number of his mentees have been able to earn college tennis scholarships.”

Aaron Williams

Aaron Williams is the founder of the Asbury Park Tennis Initiative and works tirelessly to bring tennis to his community, most times for under-resourced youth, in the town of Asbury Park, New Jersey.

In August 2023, Kindness Wins helped fund the APTI’s trip to US Open Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day so that Aaron could bring 30+ future tennis stars to see professional players for the first time and meet our founder, Madison Keys!

Michael Herman

Michael Herman of Fairview Park High School Tennis was awarded a Medal of Kindness for his work growing the game of tennis in Ohio.

Kindness Wins has given a $1500 grant to Fairview Park High School to help support the community tennis camps and grow their school tennis team. With the help of city council, Michael and the school hope to redo the local tennis courts and host tennis camps on brand new courts by next year!

Emma Higuchi

Emma Higuchi is the COO of Second Serve and helped launch SERVE Escondido, a free after-school tennis program serving underprivileged, minority youth in the City of Escondido.

Kindness Wins donated a $500 grant to Second Serve to help the continuation of Serve Escondido and the great work Emma is doing in the community.

Laura Overbeck

Laura Overbeck received the first ‘Medal of Kindness’ of 2023 for her time as the program manager of the Cincy Tennis Foundation.

Kindness Wins also donated a $500 grant to the Cincinnati Tennis Foundation in honor of Laura’s work to help support their NJTL program, offering free and reduced-cost programming to underserved youth. For more information, visit cincinnatitennisfoundation.org or their Instagram page.

Kelman Siblings

Madison Keys awarded a ‘Medal of Kindness’ to Jordyn and Kyle Kelman, who developed I’M SAFE to help kids feel included in school, in sports or doing any activity they love.

Jake Nestor

Madison Keys awarded a ‘Medal of Kindness’ to Jake Nestor, a Registered Nurse at Cincinnati Children’s in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

The Kuhn Family

Madison Keys awarded a ‘Medal of Kindness’ to Mark and Denise Kuhn, founders of the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club and its foundation in Charles City, Iowa.

April Gift

Madison Keys awards a ‘Medal of Kindness’ to April Gift, the Community Program Development Manager at USTA South Carolina and steadfast advocate for junior tennis locally.

Larry Salas

Madison Keys, has awarded a ‘Medal of Kindness’ to Larry Salas, for his efforts locally in the Coachella Valley and with the Indian Wells tournament for the past 10 years.

Anne Wang

Anne Wang, a teacher in Ventura, California, was nominated for her perseverance during the pandemic and her ingenuity to create a safe environment for her students.

Amani Shah

Amani is 16 and the founder of the youth-run nonprofit @secondserveclub which she started in 2019 with her younger sister Ayanna to redistribute gently used tennis equipment to less fortunate children.

Leah Stoddard

Leah was recognized for her work with The Hartford’s Ability Equipped program which empowers those with disabilities to achieve amazing things by making adaptive equipment and sports more accessible.

Chelsea Phaire

10-year-old Chelsea runs Chelsea’s Charity, an organization aimed at providing art supplies to children, particularly those who have endured hardship and trauma in their young lives.