(Lafayette, CA – March 31, 2022) Lafayette teen Jake Hammerman has won the 2022 Youth Hall of Fame Volunteerism Award for the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ 28th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Celebration. "We recognize our 2022 Youth Hall of Fame awardees whose commitment to service and community are to be applauded," said Board Chair, Supervisor Karen Mitchoff.
Campolindo High Schooler Jake Hammerman and his varsity teammates started Impactful Tennis during the pandemic. The goal was to give young children at home throughout the federal stay-at-home orders an opportunity to be outdoors and learn how to play tennis. Rather than charge for the tennis lessons, parents were asked to donate to Impactful Tennis' GoFundMe page. All donations would be given to Meals on Wheels Diablo Region. During the summer of 2020 and 2021, Hammerman raised over $23,000 that helped Meals on Wheels Diablo Region deliver meals to food-insecure seniors.
"I wanted to make a difference in my community," explains Jake. "Impactful Tennis benefitted everyone who took part, from the players who were doing a new sport, improving their skills, and getting outside, to the seniors who benefitted from the donations made. I have grandparents, and I know how scary and dangerous the pandemic has been for people their age."
Sherry Nadworny, Director of Development & Community Relations at Meals on Wheels Diablo Region, described her experience working with Jake stating that "his motivation to give back was inspirational. He wanted to provide something healthy and useful to young people dealing with isolation during the pandemic. Because he has elderly grandparents, he understood the challenges seniors face and how COVID-19 made the problem of food insecurity even more profound for the elderly throughout the County. He wanted to work to help MOW Diablo Region fight senior hungry."
Jake's efforts to start Impactful Tennis were truly impactful to Meals on Wheels Diablo Region and the County's vulnerable seniors who are often the hidden hungry in our society, says Caitlin Sly, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Diablo Region. "It was so amazing to see someone as young as Jake come up with the idea that gave back to young people and our seniors. We can't express our gratitude enough to him and look forward to a third successful year of Impactful Tennis."
Visit www.impactfultennis.org for more information about the fantastic work of Jake Hammerman and his teammates.
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