2nd Annual Odlum Brown VanOpen Community Day Presented By London Drugs A Rousing Success!
June 16, 2018- The Odlum Brown VanOpen 2nd Annual Community Day presented by London Drugs was an incredible success. The fun-filled day saw youth from Tennis BC’s Girls in Action outreach program and CLICK (Contributing to Lives of Inner City Kids) participate in a day of tennis provided by Hollyburn Country Club and Tennis Canada coaches.
“We look forward to Community Day each year as a great way to see how tennis can have such a positive impact on youth throughout Metro Vancouver and across British Columbia,” said Odlum Brown VanOpen Tournament Director Rik de Voest. “Events like this play an integral role in providing youth with access to the important social, emotional and physical development found in sports.”
In addition to having fun on the courts, the youth attending also heard from Tennis Canada Head of High Performance for Western Canada Oded Jacob and players from the High Performance program. These inspirational youth included 13-year-old Isabella Asenov, 14-year-old Aron Pilbart, and 17-year-olds Jessie Gong and Raul Dobai, who shared their stories of how to overcome adversity, set and achieve goals, and make dreams become reality. De Voest along with Hollyburn Country Club Tennis Director Alex Korch and his team of coaches provided on-court instruction and play so the youth now feel confident to hit the courts in their own communities. All participants left with a racket, two cans of tennis balls, a t-shirt and a prize!
“It is our thrill to put together such a wonderful day for youth in our community. It’s an honour to give back in this way and put so many smiles on so many faces!” added de Voest.
It was a beautiful day of tennis and inspiration for the youth. Big thanks to Fresh St. Market for providing breakfast food and a lunch BBQ for everyone and to T-Shirt Printing Company for donating the t-shirts! Thank you to all who donated prizing: London Drugs, Rackets & Runners, Lululemon, Sport Chek, HCC Sports Boutique and Babolat for tennis balls and new grips for all the rackets. A special thank you to Krysia Olejnik who spearheaded the racket donations for the youth and personally re-gripped all the rackets.
To all the coaches who gave their time to inspire the youth – THANK YOU: Tessa Ainge, Todd Beechinor, Pete Grimsey, Alex Korch, Tony Macken, Nicolas Oakes, Zack Rath, Steve Tseng, Rik de Voest and Audie Wong.
Thank you to the photographers: Bo Mon Kwan, Sarah Grace, and Joe Ng.
Joe Ng captured the event in 360 VR. Check it out here.
Todd Beechinor, a tennis Coach at Hollyburn Country Club, is coaching Wilson Whitlock who CLICK: Contributing to Lives of Inner City Kids brought to the Odlum Brown VanOpen Community Day presented by London Drugs at Hollyburn Country Club, Saturday June 16, 2018.
(Left to right) Rik de Voest, Odlum Brown VanOpen Tournament Director, Alex Korch, Hollyburn Country Club Tennis Director with his team of coaches at the Odlum Brown VanOpen Community Day presented by London Drugs at Hollyburn Country Club, Saturday June 16, 2018.
Various photos of the day below:
