Pictured above: participants from the 8th Annual 8-Hour Play it Forward Tennis-a-Thon held at the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club. The kids played tennis for 8 hours, from 4pm until midnight, to raise pledges for Philpott Children’s Tennis.
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On Saturday March 28th over 50 kids from the Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club played tennis for 8 hours, from 4pm – midnight, to PLAY IT FORWARD for Philpott Children’s Tennis.
Play it Forward: 2026 Tennis-a-thon brings Community, Gratitude, and Impact to Life
This year’s Play it Forward Tennis-a-Thon at the Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club was nothing short of inspiring. With over 50 junior participants, the courts were full – not just with tennis, but with energy, generosity, and a shared commitment to making a difference. Together, the junior players at the Cricket Club raised over $10,000 for Philpott Children’s Tennis which will give so many other kids the opportunity to learn tennis and grow through sport.
This year’s event was led by junior Co-Chairs Zack Zeidel and Charlotte Baldwin, alongside an incredible Junior Executive Committee of 14 youth who brought enthusiasm, leadership, and heart to every detail.
A Fundraising Ace
Huge congratulations to Andreas Keramaris, this year’s top fundraiser. His incredible effort earned him a well-deserved reward – this summer he will spend a day at the WTA Pro Tour event, National Bank Open, with his favourite Cricket Club coach. And in a decision that surprised absolutely no one, he chose Coach Teg:)
Special mention also to Adrian Rehak, Kabir Kapoor and Noah Kalef for raising over $1,000 in pledges.
Playing it Forward to honour Quinn
A meaningful tradition continued this year with all donations from the event once again made in memory of Quinn Cammaert.
What began a few years ago with Quinn’s brother, Henry, raising funds in her honour, has grown into a collective effort – now, all of the participating kids are choosing to donate their pledges in Quinn’s name. This year’s Junior Executive Committee, once again, declared that the entire event donation would be made in Quinn’s memory.
The Sponsors and Volunteers behind the Magic
Big thanks to Teachers on Call for sponsoring the event tshirts and providing prizes for the evening.
Events like this are made possible by support from an amazing community. A big thank you to our sponsors, Pizzaville and Teachers on Call, for their generous contributions of pizza, prizes, and support for this year’s event t-shirts.
We are also incredibly grateful to our parent committee, Seema Rawla, Simone Walker, and Kari Mayer – who kindly dedicated their time to ensure the day ran smoothly. Big thanks to Seema for creating the beautiful prize packages for the kids. Finally, thank you to the entire Cricket Club coaching team who came out to support the event and spend some fun and festive time with the kids.
Game, Set, and Big Match Energy
Beyond the fundraising, the day was full of fun moments that made it truly memorable. Whether it was Coach Mike playing with the oversized racquet, the junior committee using beach balls to engage the younger kids, or the one-point tournament that was full of surprises; players cheered each other on and embraced the community spirit of the event right up until the clock struck midnight!
Why Play it Forward?
The Play it Forward Tennis-a-Thon continues to be about so much more than tennis. It’s about giving kids the opportunity to understand the value of generosity, to feel proud of making a difference, and to be part of something bigger than themselves.
To everyone who played, supported, organized, and cheered – thank you for helping bring this event to life. The impact of this day will be felt far beyond the courts. Because when we Play it Forward, everyone wins.
You helped us raise over $10,000 for kids in Toronto’s priority needs neighbourhoods.
The Tennis-a-Thon is one of several important 3rd party fundraisers for Philpott Children’s tennis that make it possible to introduce tennis to over 4,000 inner-city kids annually who otherwise would not be able to afford a tennis program.
The donation from this event is being made in memory and celebration of Quinn Cammaert.
The success of Philpott;s Kids’ Tennis programs over the past thirty years is the result of hard work and continued donor support. These programs are possible thanks to individuals who, like you, wish to make a difference in the lives of thousands of kids living in priority neighbourhoods across Toronto.
TOGETHER, we are making sure there is A PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO PLAY!
The Philpott Board of Directors, staff, instructors, volunteers, and children say THANK YOU!
See you next year!
