Bird Key Yacht Club provides new shoes for Tennis for Fun athletes

By Observer Staff
| 1:30 p.m. June 17, 2023

Bird Key Yacht Club raised over $1,700 to purchase 34 pairs of shoes.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

The Bird Key Yacht Club displayed community spirit by raising more than $1,700 to purchase 34 pairs of tennis shoes for residents of The Haven and Tennis For Fun athletes.

The idea started with Molly Gleason, a BKYC member and Tennis for Fun volunteer, who got the ball rolling, explained Brenda Shields, director of Tennis For Fun.

Tennis For Fun is volunteer organization with multiple locations in Florida and around the country including Sarasota that partners with the Special Olympics. It enables athletes to enjoy the sport of tennis, socialize and compete.

“Molly suggested the idea of providing new tennis shoes to The Haven athletes participating in the Tennis For Fun program. Her fellow club members at Bird Key Yacht Club raised enough money to purchase brand-new tennis shoes for The Haven’s TFF athletes along with many of their residents,” said Shields. “This is an amazing example of local generosity and we are very excited to share this program with our friends, neighbors and the Sarasota area.”

Kyle Pigott, The Haven resident, Tammy Hackney, BKYC General Manager and COO, and Jeff Ahlers, The Haven resident

The dedication of club members and support for their leadership fueled this initiative. Lisa Adams, BKYC commodore, Tammy Hackney, club general manager, and Gleason delivered the shoes to The Haven on June 9. Once the athletes received their shoes, many began trying them on immediately, explained Adams.

“It has been a privilege for members of the Bird Key Yacht Club to support (The Haven Tennis For Fun) athletes and residents. Our members have a generous heart and step up when asked to support worthwhile Sarasota community charitable initiatives,” said Adams. “When Molly suggested this idea, I immediately asked Tammy to pull a team together to make it happen. And she did with the help and enthusiastic support of our members. And here we are today.”

Ron Shields, Dylan Mayes, Lisa Adams, Brenda Shields and Molly Gleason

Gleason explained that Adams was quick to put the wheels in motion.

“Good things happen when good people make the effort. The athletes' faces were at first a mix of disbelief and astonishment when I said to them, ‘I need your shoe size and I want you to tell me exactly what color of tennis shoe you want. Brand new, just for you,’ and the looks were replaced by delight. I mean, how do you decide between pink and purple?”