JUNE VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Jennifer Reives | South Bend, Indiana
Jennifer Reives of South Bend is one of the outstanding volunteers for Northern Indiana. Jennifer first became involved with tennis when her pre-teen son became interested in getting ranked in the district through his tournament play. Jennifer also worked with the PALS (Police Athletic Leagues) program in South Bend at Washington High School tennis courts--the site for free tennis programs in the summer.
Jennifer has been on the Northern Indiana Tennis Association Board of Directors since 2009. She has a knack for finding areas around South Bend that need a little help with organized tennis programs. Four years ago when the USTA free 10 and Under memberships started, she made certain that the primary grades at the elementary schools had the flyers to pass out to all of their students. She is currently working with Madison and Perley Primary Schools including tennis in the physical education programs with her goal being to add more schools next year. She has the support of the South Bend Community School Corporation Curriculum Facilitator who also wants to increase tennis in their schools and after-school programs. Jennifer also is working with Good Shepherd Montessori School as well as the Boys and Girls Club—tennis being the focus. With her efforts Madison School now has NJTL status and USTA organization membership.
Jennifer currently works at the Leeper Park Tennis Center. She continues to also provide free tennis lessons at four different park locations around the city. Jennifer is very excited with her work day often working with 70 to 120 youngsters. Her goal is to get younger kids prepared to play and participate in school and after school tennis programs so they will be ready to play at the intermediate and high school levels.
USTA/Midwest Section Tennis Service Representative-Indiana Cameron Benjamin stated, “Jennifer is a huge advocate in the South Bend area, and her focus for the past couple months has been working with all elementary schools and their physical education teachers to get tennis units a part of their yearly curriculum and students exposed to the game (currently two or three have implemented tennis). Jennifer also works very closely with the South Bend Park and Recreation running several satellite sites and making sure that the best trained staff are teaching lessons and running the summer tennis programs. Jennifer is always willing to learn and be taught new methods of on-court teaching philosophies by attending USTA workshops and trainings to absorb more knowledge.”
Jennifer Reives, Northern Indiana appreciates all that you are doing to get more people in the game!