love of the game

Most of them have been playing on the same tennis courts at McCree Park in Lake Highlands twice a week for the past 35 years. “You can imagine we have had some drop out and have added others. A few of us have been there the whole time,” Elie Pace says. In the early years, many of the women played in a competitive league at Samuell Grand park in East Dallas, sometimes playing tennis as many as five nights a week. “We started a group out of Samuell Grand called Love 40 because we didn’t want to compete with the younger, more rabid players,” Pace says. “As time went on, we wanted to stay closer to home.” Summer’s heat can be challenging for the members, who are all in their 70s and 80s. “This is the first summer that we have had to drop to one court. The heat and humidity have gotten to several of us. Generally there are two courts of eight women,” Pace says. She adds that the group is always open to new participants. “Because of our age, getting subs is becoming a problem so we are always looking for someone to complement our group. A sub can play pretty often, but until someone drops out, they will only be a sub.”

WHAT GIVES?

Small ways that you can make a big difference for neighborhood nonprofits

SHOP or a marathon through Team in Training (TNT), a program of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or support someone who is already a member, such as Lake Highlands dentist Ashly Cothern. Cothern is training for the a September triathlon in Washington, D.C., alongside her friend, Rebecca Holmes, whose 4-year-old son, Gage, was recently diagnosed with cancer. Visit her fundraising page at pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/nattri10/ acothern. Follow Gage’s progress at gageupdates.wordpress.com. Learn how to join TNT at teamintraining.org. Meet an ultramarathoner who got her start with TNT in the Advocate’s feature story, “Extreme Sports” on page 30.

...for clothing and household items at the White Rock Center of Hope Resale Shop at 10017 Garland. At this location you can also drop off donations of canned food, clothing and thriftstore items that will help local families cope with crisis. White Rock Center of Hope is a community coalition of churches, civic organizations, businesses, schools and people working together to provide services to families in need who live in White Rock area neighborhoods. “Donated goods and services provide 70 percent of our support,” organizers says “88 percent of this goes directly to help families in crisis.” Learn more at whiterockcenterofhope.org.

REGISTER FOR A TRIATHALON ...

KNOW OF WAYS that neighbors can spend time, attend an event, or purchase or donate something to benefit a neighborhood nonprofit? Email your suggestion to launch@ advocatemag.com.