"Imagine you are the person you've always wanted to be." Now seeking Teens who want to lead! Do you want to make a *real* difference? Earn your community service hours in an actually meaningful way! We are looking for mindful mentors to volunteer 40 hours this summer with younger kids. No tennis or yoga experience needed - we'll train you. You get a great reward package, too. Interested? Introduce yourself below!
Become a Mentor:
Advantage Kids was founded in 2012 after a friendly dinner. Our Founder, Dr. Bob Ronstadt, hosted with an intimate group of tennis lovers, and they discussed how tennis changed their lives. They raised a couple hundrered dollars and began teaching their beloved sport through Lakes Region Tennis. Today, we are Advantage Kids. We continue our mission through local donors, trusts, corporate partners, foundations, and individuals, who keep Advantage Kids serving New England communities!
Board President Tim James is a Lakes Region local who rose up through community tennis, attended Bollettieri Tennis Academy, and went on to lead a successful business and tennis career.
“One of the highlights of my tennis life was the opportunity to play with Segura.” – Bob, retired founder of Advantage Kids, owner of Gilmanton Tavern, Board Member, (and, when we're very very lucky, Tennis Coach)
Board Member, Area Manager, Head Coach Kent Hemingway runs the entire Mount Washington Valley Advantage Kids region, arranging year-round programs for kids in the northernmost part of the state.
Board Member Joseph Matarese has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare and information technology services industries.
Jeffery Harrison comes to AK from the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the USTA Foundation. Further biography details coming soon!
Suzanne Vitko, Board Member of Advantage Kids and USTA New Hampshire, AK Seacoast Area Manager, lives and breathes the sport of tennis.
Board Secretary Kathy Peverly joined the AK board a little over a year ago and is passionate about our unique Tennis + Yoga program.
Ryan is PTR, USTA High Performance and Under 10 certified. In his 20-year teaching career he has taught several sectionally and nationally ranked juniors as well as coaching several high performing USTA adult teams. Ryan has taught at Cedardale, The Thoreau Club of Concord, MA and was Director of the High Performance Program at The Miller Center in Buffalo, NY.
Pictured here with a custom made trophy given to her by Advantage Kids participants Leila and Daniel, Coach Sue is being recognized as the “BEST Coach” . . . and we agree! She's also a very good Board Member, friend, and mentor.
As the Advertising Director at The Laconia Daily Sun, Elaine has been a committed board member over the years at AK, she has been instrumental in our impact messaging to the community through publications and media.
Meet Dawn Dragon, the passionate and dedicated Executive Director of Advantage Kids. Her unwavering commitment to impacting today's youth with thoughtful intention is the driving force behind her pursuit of excellence in all matters AK.
In addition to working at Advantage Kids as the Compliance Director, I am a full-time college student, majoring in sport management at the Health and Human Services School and pursuing a law minor, at the University of New Hampshire, Durham location.
Simon is AK's wonderkid: he started off as a participant in our programs and grew into a volunteer, then a coach, then our program coordinator!
Carolyn Hemingway, M.Ed, brings a wealth of energy and experience to the Mindful Mentor: Building Connections program for Advantage Kids.
There are a lot of ways to get involved, and we are always recruiting new partners. If you're a business owner or part of a corporation who might be interested in partnering at our Corporate Sponsorship Level, check out those rewards here! You can also reach out to Dawn or Brittany directly or click the donate button to make a unique, individualized, or one-time contribution.
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Advantage Kids (dba Lakes Region Tennis Association) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization with EIN 46-2774258. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Be sure to ask your employer about corporate matching programs!
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