Meet the Founder of Rally Club Seattle: Amy Quilter

If you spend any amount of time at TCSP, chances are you’ve seen Amy Quilter’s smiling face around. Her effervescent personality is a fixture here. Over the past 6 years, she’s been volunteering with youth and families living in Solid Ground and Mercy Housing, two affordable housing communities located directly behind the Tennis Center in Magnuson Park. 

 

In early 2022, in response to youth need as well as a lack of available programming for tweens and teens in the area, she called upon her tennis community to found Rally Club Seattle, a collaborative group mentorship program for underserved youth, particularly middle schoolers. Rally Club believes in the power of long-term meaningful connections and community to empower underserved youth. Tennis friends “rallied” in support. Several volunteered (and continue to volunteer!) and more than 40 TCSP members generously donated to make Rally Club Seattle a reality. 

 

What started as a group of five kids sharing a tennis lesson (graciously provided by TCSP) and doing schoolwork on the picnic tables outside, has expanded to have served dozens of youths, engaged 11 committed mentors, and provided weekly afterschool programming, field trips, as well as family events. 

 

Rally Club is continuing to grow to form new cohorts, now possibly in multiple locations. Eckstein Middle School has invited Rally Club to hold programming onsite, and another housing complex is willing to provide community space for the club. In short, Rally Club needs more volunteers to accommodate the tremendous need in the Magnuson Community! 

 

If you would like to know more, please contact Amy at either of the email addresses listed below or ask any active mentor if you spot one at the club: Kelly Arron, Karen Berlin, Aki Carroll, Julita Eleveld, Jen Hanseler, Amy Knobbs, Kali McCollister, Kara Diane Palmer, and hopefully more after this article is published!  

 

Rally Club provides training and support for volunteers and is super fun creating wonderful relationships with the youth in our neighborhood! Please consider taking this opportunity to make an incredible impact. And if your heart is full and time is limited, please consider helping through a small financial gift via Rally Club’s website.