SWING FOR A PURPOSE

   Hello! My name is Sasha Wood and I founded Swing for a Purpose in 2017 after beginning my journey in international competitive tennis. At the start, I would often travel to third-world countries to compete. During one of my first trips, I suffered a tough loss in the finals of an ITF (International Tennis Federation) event. Although I had done considerably well in the tournament, it felt incredibly disappointing to come so far only to fall at the last hurdle. On the way back to the hotel, I noticed local children playing tennis together and volunteered to coach them. I was instantly hooked. Coaching the children immediately put the loss in perspective, and provided me with an avenue to not only teach tennis but also speak with the children about their background and provide advice regarding their tennis and education. After my Jamaican experience, I made a promise to myself that I would volunteer with children in every country I traveled to. While working my way to a career-high rank of 146 in the world and competing in Grand Slams events like the Australian Open, I traveled to over thirty-five countries with Swing for a Purpose and was able to touch lives from Bolivia to Zimbabwe. I typically collect donations such as clothing, toiletries, tennis equipment, school supplies, and more through fundraisers before departing for trips to disperse them to marginalized communities in the areas to which I travel. Through Swing For a Purpose, I have been lucky enough to meet with hundreds of children and coach them tennis, tutor math, and science, virtually introduce them to college recruiters, and more. As I enter my senior year at Yale University, I look forward to continuing leading Swing for a Purpose and extending its outreach to communities around me, while also maintaining contact with the strong connections I formed in so many remarkable countries around the world.

 

       Thank you so much for taking the time to visit our website! Check back for fundraising updates, blogs, photos, and other Swing for a Purpose-related news!

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   Best,