Ball Collection
During 2014-2015 our aim was to collect 1,100 squash balls to sew into ball blankets. By the conclusion of our sewing event on Global Youth Services Day, we had collected 1,700 balls. We used these balls to sew into eight ball blankets for kids with ADHD and autism.
Special thanks to the following major contributors: The New York Athletic Club and Clinton Leeuw (278 balls), Milton Academy (91 balls), Boston Sports Club in Allston, MA and Dave Renninger (93 balls), the Maugus Club (over 100 balls), Newton Squash & Tennis Club and Coach Chris Brownell (119 balls), TOG Squash Academy (over 70 balls), Hopkins School (60 balls), Deerfield Academy (39 balls), Belmont Hill School (48 balls), Wellesley College and Coach Wendy Berry (55 balls), Rhode Island Country Club (163 balls), Union Boat Club (63 balls), Pomfret School (60 balls).
Rackets and Shoes
Our racket program produced 20 used rackets which were donated to two urban squash programs – CitySquash and Squash Haven. Our shoe program resulted in the contribution of 25 pairs of squash shoes to two urban squash programs – Squash Haven and SquashBusters.
You can learn more about our projects on this website. If you want to participate in our programs, please reach out to Sydney Soloway at sydney@squashcares.org.
On April 18, 2015, Global Youth Service Day, seventy six people gathered in the Dana Hall School art studio (our youngest participant being three years old) from 12:00-3:00 PM to help us sew ball blankets. Together, we reused the dead squash balls we collected and transformed them into eight ball blankets which were given away to kids with ADHD and autism. One of these ball blankets has three hundred balls, two have two hundred balls, and five have one hundred balls. These blankets are appropriate for fifty to one hundred fifty pound kids. They were distributed to Cardinal Cushing School, The Shared Living Collaborative, John Silber Early Learning Center, and individuals around the country (one is even going outside the U.S. to Jordan!).
Disney Friends for Change, TOG Squash, and The Dana Hall School sponsored the event and provided funds to help fund the event.
You can learn more about SquashCares and our recent event from articles in Squash Magazine, the Weston Town Crier, and The Patriot Ledger.
If you missed the SquashCares Sewing Event do not fret because there will be more coming! Keep your eyes peeled and stay updated about SquashCares and our progress as we plan more sewing events in 2016 and further in the future. Hope to see you there!
