Huron County Community Foundation 2023 Annual Report

play GRANTEE SPOTL IGHT ServingSuccess: The Enduring Legacy of Norwalk’s Tennis Program In the heart of Norwalk’s community lies a high school tennis program that has stood the test of time, leaving an indelible mark on the local sports landscape. For generations, the Norwalk Truckers have proven to be one of the area’s premier programs, nurturing young athletes and becoming one of the most consistent winners in Norwalk High School’s history. In 1973, the school offered girls’ tennis as a school- sponsored team before it became an officially sanctioned sport in Ohio. Their record is 215-30 over the past 13 seasons. The boys’ tennis programwas the winningest in any sport in Northern Ohio League (NOL) history. The league was formed in 1944 and concluded in the spring of 2017. During that span, the NHS boys won 27 NOL team championships. Both teams continue to put forth strong teams today. What they needed: Four of the seven tennis courts located at Norwalk Middle School dated back to 1971 and served together as an ice-skating rink in the winter months. Water damage and ordinary wear-and-tear took a toll on those courts, which showed signs of significant deterioration and presented safety concerns in recent years. Aer consulting experts on the best way to breathe new life into the 50-year-old courts, the Norwalk Tennis program and Norwalk Athletic Boosters came together in 2020 to raise the requisite $400,000 to build five new tennis courts. The Boosters pledged a matching donation of up to $200,000, inspiring program supporters to get busy raising the other half. How Huron County Community Foundation helped: Huron County Community Foundation joined other community members and businesses in supporting the ambitious and worthwhile project through its general grant cycle. In less than a year, an additional $100,000 was raised, and the entire project came to fruition by the opening of the 2023 tennis season. The teamwork and collaboration witnessed throughout this process rivaled the community spirit ordinarily seen on the courts and in the bleachers. Why the new courts are such a valuable community asset: Chris Higgins, former Norwalk High School tennis player and Head Girls & Boys Tennis Coach for 12 years, spear- headed the fundraising efforts and oversaw the endeavor to make this dream a reality. He credits hometown pride as the primary motivation behind his support of the project. “I was born in Norwalk and still live there. It’s where I went to school, played tennis, and later taught high school. I want good things for Norwalk,” he says. Open to all Norwalk residents, the new courts are among the best tennis facilities in the area, already drawing league tournaments and summer camps. Chris adds, “This was my way of giving back to the community that I love, and I was in awe of howmany people stepped forward to help.”