WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT:
Ashley Ball to serve as Ambassador for "Tennis Shoes 4
Africa"
Rocky
Mount, NC -
The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics is
pleased to announce the creation of a new community
service initiative: Tennis Shoes 4 Africa. The project
was devised by head tennis coach Dominic Modise, while
Wesleyan junior Ashley Ball (pictured right) is serving
as its current Ambassador. The program revolves around
the donation of used pairs of shoes that will be shipped
to Coach Modise's hometown of Mmabatho, South Africa,
where kids fight the effects of poverty and disease on a
daily basis. There, the shoes will make their way into
the hands of tennis hopefuls of all ages!
"I grew up in
Mmabatho and my parents were not well-off," says Modise.
"During the Apartheid era, life was not easy to say the
least. My friends and I used to cut bicycle tires to
patch our shoes. It was a way of life for us."
Modise
(pictured left) shared stories such as this with Ball,
as well his idea for the project. Ball took an active
interest in turning this "idea" into reality, and before
long, the two were building a website to promote the
project.
"I was
sincerely touched by Coach Modise's strength... not just
with tennis, but with life," says Ball. "He is a great
coach, mentor, and friend."
Ball adds,
"I am hoping to travel to South Africa with Coach Modise
this summer to deliver these donations, and I would like
to write my Honors thesis about my experiences there."
Modise urges everyone to support this
worthy cause, stating, "I believe
that you can make an impact in the lives of young people
in Africa who lack many opportunities. You can make a
difference by donating a pair of shoes. It doesn’t have
to be a new pair... any pair can help."
Modise and Ball will
also be collecting any used tennis balls and/or
racquets. Donations can be
shipped to the Department of Athletics or dropped off in
the Taylor Center at any time.
For more information, please visit
their website at
www.tennisshoes4africa.org.
Help brighten a
child’s day in South Africa!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * *
Modise is currently in his first
year as head tennis coach at North Carolina Wesleyan,
while Ball is an Honors student who is lettering in
tennis for a third consecutive season. More information
on both is available at
www.tennisshoes4africa.org.
