Bill Simons
Chaos reigned. Just a few lobs from the most glamorous strip in the world, Las Vegas’s Lorenzi Park was a mess. You know the drill: back then there were too many drug dealers, fierce fights and too much fear.
But then, 22 years ago, a little-known tennis player, with his straight-shooter haircut, entered the scene. Ryan Wolfington looked like just another preppy straight out of central casting – a young Fortune 500 executive on the rise.
But this guy, straight out of Wall Street, had a transcendent vision. Deep in his gut, Ryan knew something had to be done. Before him was a Las Vegas community gripped in fear, depression, dependency and dysfunction.
Wolfington recalled: “Self-harm and suicide were rampant. I knew our schools taught youth to read, write and some science, but did they teach them how to understand and navigate their emotions and master their inner selves?
“Did they teach about the psychology of addiction, let alone how to cope with their anger and defuse the conflicts they had with their family and friends? And, goodness, they certainly didn’t teach about nutrition, sleep science, dealing with your body image, emotional intelligence, mindfulness and creating a viable life plan for the future.”
The guy talked a big game. But he actually walked the walk, too.
Inspired by Andre Agassi’s cutting-edge academies, Wolfington first sponsored one kid and then launched the Inspiring Children’s Foundation, which for over two decades has been transforming the lives of thousands of at-risk youth through a holistic approach to physical and mental health.
“Right away, we got buy-in,” Ryan reports. “For instance, the Hernandez family used to walk over two miles every Saturday and Sunday to our programs. Now all three of them are going to be getting college scholarships. They all have 4.0 GPAs, they got great tennis rankings and they’re going to be the first in their immigrant family to go to college. Plus, they’re giving back as interns who teach tennis and run the foundation.”
Wolfington noted, “In the last five years 92 percent of the foundation’s participants who had depression or addiction issues are in remission. Ninety-five percent of our grads are offered college scholarships, and I mean good ones. Almost 60% get into ivy-level schools like Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Williams and USC.”
It may all seem to be too good to be true. But now, the program is being replicated by the USTA Foundation in 22 cities around the country. Twice a week it has free drop-in programs, and nearby it has three homes for those who need a safe, inspirational place to live.
Most of the foundation’s leaders get straight A’s. Four hundred participants each year travel to the Indian Wells tournament. And there’s an annual 12-day mindfulness retreat on a California organic farm that changes lives.
Of course, the foundation couldn’t have done all this without help. The foundation’s leadership program, known as Team Bryan, is modeled after the extraordinary systems created by Bob and Mike Bryan’s parents, Wayne and Kathy. Their celebrated emotional health program emphasizes music, arts and entertainment, along with tennis, in a fun environment.
Bob and Mike recently came to Lorenzi Park to do a free citywide clinic and a fundraiser. The twins are not only the winningest doubles team in history (119 titles, including 16 Slams, thank you very much), but they also are the most giving, appealing and accessible duo in tennis history.
Beyond this, good people near and far have stepped up to boost the program. Las Vegas councilman Cedric Crear has been an inspired ally. And the pop icon Jewel, who’s tirelessly boosted the foundation, has been a jewel. She told the Tennis Channel, “We’re never broken. We can heal. You can be the architect of your own life.”
Sir Richard Branson has made the foundation the official charity of his popular Necker Cup. All this support is for good reason.
Team Bryan youth are led by world class coaches like Tim Blenkiron, Dave McPherson and James McGee. And they continually gain gold balls, No. 1 rankings and nearly 60 have been ranked in the top 20 nationally.
More importantly they gain the psychological stability to become professionals at life. They learn about deep listening, anger management and growth mindsets. And they profit from the power of example.
Alejandro Quilles told the Desert Sun, “I never thought I could achieve so much.” Quilles, who was the No. 8 junior in the country and is now at Dartmouth, said, “I saw my friends do it before me and that made me know I could do it.”
Even more dramatically, the Inspiring Children Foundation has boldly moved to counter the scourge of teen suicide. Time and again, youth who’ve run out of answers, who are on the edge, reach out in desperation. Middle of the night phone calls are not rare. The foundation’s heart-wrenching success stories inspire.
For years mental health was far from being a top option in the charity world. But since the pandemic, over 500 organizations have reached out to Inspiring Children. And the foundation is now seeking funding to create a user-friendly curriculum that other organizations could use to provide children with their empowering tool kit.
To learn more or to help this extraordinary initiative, visit: www.inspiringchildren.org.
